Pulse by L. R. Burkard

I have read several novels about the aftermath of an EMP but this is the first I've seen for teens. It is a combination of entertainment and information. The narrative is from the viewpoints of three teens. We follow the alternating first person accounts of their experiences after technology and electricity become nonexistent. We learn much about an EMP, what it is and what happens as a result.

The three viewpoints give three very different responses to the disaster. One teen lives on a farm in a very strong Christian family. We see how farm life has prepared her and her family for survival. Another teen lives in the city in an apartment with her family. They struggle greatly to survive after their grocery store food supply is cut off. The third teen lives in a rural home with her family totally unprepared for such a disaster.

There are many issues teens could discuss after reading this book. There is the entire complex question of making choices, such as feeding one's own family verses giving food to others. There is also the issue of stealing, implying that it is not so wrong when done to provide for the survival of loved ones. There is also the reality the teens must face. Suddenly beauty habits are meaningless when just surviving is paramount, and getting rid of lice! There is also a good discussion on listening to what God is telling you to do. And ultimately, how does a family protect themselves from marauders? Do they kill others? What is a Christian's responsibility to those in need, to those starving?

The novel is also a bit preachy. There is a monologue on the importance of having guns with which to defend ones self. There is another monologue on how biased the media is, being selective in what news they report to the public. Another one speaks to judgment on America, suggesting the parallel to Sodom and Gomorrah. (I found it interesting that the concentration was regarding sexual sin and totally ignored Ezekiel stating that the sin was being overfed and unconcerned, failing to help the poor and needy as well. Ezek. 14:49)

This is a very realistic and gritty novel dealing with the issues teens will face should there be an EMP. Teens are made aware of how people behave when they are desperate, including Christians when they are defending their own food supply. While very well written, I found the novel troubling. I would suggest that parents read this book along with their teens. There is much that should be discussed while reading it.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Linore Burkard attempted her first novel at age nine. After college, marriage and children, she began writing novels in earnest. Her first published books were historical romance with Harvest House. The Pulse Effex Series in her first youth fiction suspense series. She lives in Ohio, is the mother of five, and homeschools her youngest. You can find out more at http://www.lrburkard.com/ and http://www.linoreburkard.com/.

Lilliput Press, 258 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Time Sniffers by C. S. Lakin

I'm now a senior citizen but as a teen I loved science fiction. This novel is one I thoroughly enjoyed now and would have devoured then.

This novel has everything that makes science fiction so much fun. There are adorable aliens and really scary ones too. There are lots of advanced scientific technique and gadgets. There is space and time travel, with rips in the fabric of space time. There are great teen characters who must save the world from evil.

That brings up the allegorical nature of the story. Lakin has crafted a good plot that parallels the introduction of evil into our world and its growing influence in our society. A subtle aspect of the battle against the evil forces is how the teens have to work together. Each teen has a unique skill and only as they work together can they counter the many facets of the evil aliens.

I recommend this novel to teens who love science fiction involving the battle between good and evil. You'll be entertained by some great science fiction scenes and you'll be encouraged to think about overcoming your obstacles and working with others.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

C. S. Lakin writes novel is numerous genres, focusing mostly on contemporary psychological mysteries and allegorical fantasy. Her novel Someone to Blame (contemporary fiction) won the 2009 Zondervan First Novel competition. She also writes historical Western romance under the pen name Charlene Whitman. She has published twenty novels and eight writing craft books. Her award winning blog, www.livewritethrive.com, offers insights, instruction, and encouragement for writers. She currently works as a freelance copy editor and writing coach, specializing in helping authors prepare their books for publication. She edits for individuals, small publishing companies, and literary agents and does more than 200 manuscript critiques a year.

354 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Race for the Flash Stone by K. Patrick Donoghue

Donoghue has created another good story combining fantasy, mystery, adventure and archaeology. This novel is the second in a series and I highly recommend that Shadows of the Stone Benders be read first. It really sets the background for this novel. This novel concentrates more on the magnetic stones introduced in the first novel and the ancient people who created them.

One aspect of the book I really like is the imaginative attempt to tie together many of the mysteries of archaeology. Ancient myths are combined with archaeological finds to create a narrative that may explain much of the mystery. It is a fictional story but an entertaining one that poses many plausible possibilities.

For example, we learn through the memories in the stones that a planet sized asteroid passed by earth in prehistoric times, causing vast changes on the earth including a great flood. New mountains rose while other land sank into the sea. Only a few survived. Some of them had understood magnetism to such an extent that they could save their memories to stones.

Those stones are the focus of Dr. Cully and his friends. He tries to figure out the puzzling map his uncle left him. Understanding the map would allow him to find the evidence he needs to prove to the world the ancient civilization existed. His exploration leads to a great deal of adventure and suspense.

Donghue has a writing style that is generally good. He does have a habit, however, of not writing the narrative in chronological order. A scene will open in juxtaposition to the end of the previous scene. Then, through the thoughts of one of the characters, we find out what happened in between the two scenes. That narrative style occurred so often that I got tired of it.

This book is the second in The Anlon Cully Chronicles. I would highly suggest you read Shadows of the Stone Benders first so you understand the background for this novel. You can read my review of it here.

I recommend this novel to those who enjoy an Indiana Jones type of adventure. You'll be entertained and read some interesting ideas about archaeological mysteries.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Kevin Patrick Donoghue is the author of The Anlon Cully Chronicles. He lives in northern Virginia with his wife and two sons. You can find out more at https://kpatrickdonoghue.com/.

Leaping Leopard Enterprises, 358 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Getting the Gospel Right by R. C. Sproul (reissue)

The 1990s saw emphasis on ecumenism and two documents were produced, hoping for greater unity between Roman Catholics and evangelicals. Evangelicals and Catholics Together came out in 1994 and The Gift of Salvation in 1997. The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals expressed their distress over the latter document in 1998, considering it seriously flawed. Sproul gives careful scrutiny to The Gift of Salvation paragraph by paragraph in the second part of the book.

Sproul points out the differences in belief between Roman Catholics and evangelicals. For example, Roman Catholics and evangelicals agree that justification is based on the righteousness of Christ. Roman Catholics say the righteousness is infused sacramentally while evangelicals say it is imputed to us but is not inherently ours. The Gift of Salvation is vague on the issue, not affirming or denying the imputation. (67-68) He identifies other places where the document is ambiguous and points out “how deeply divided the historical Roman Catholic and evangelical views of salvation really are.” (91)

After the publication of those documents, there rose the issue of unity among evangelicals – those signing the documents and those in opposition to them. Evangelicals on both sides came together and created a document about the gospel to restore and strengthen evangelical unity. It is called The Gospel of Jesus Christ: An Evangelical Celebration. Sproul provides the text of the document in the third part of the book and follows with comment.

This book is a repackaged edition of Sproul's book that originally came out in 1999. I am not sure of the relevance of the book today, some twenty years after the document in question was issued. Sproul does comment on ecumenism in general and the documents that are produced. He notes that they must be ambiguous and use evasive language, minimizing differences.

Sproul is a scholar of Reformed theology and writes like one. He has included much historical background and theological information in this book. Much of the book may be beyond the interest and comprehension of of most lay people. I recommend it to those interested in recent ecumenical documents and a critique from a Reformed theologian.

My rating: 4/5.

R. C. Sproul has been a seminary professor, pastor, and is the author of more than one hundred books. He is the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries and the chancellor of Reformed Bible College. His teaching can be heard daily on the program Renewing Your Mind. He is also the executive editor of Tabletalk magazine and general editor of the Reformation Study Bible.

Baker Books, 240 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Ekklesia by Ed Silvoso

The church we see today is nothing like that described in Acts. Jesus said the gates of hades would not prevail against the church but that is certainly not what we are seeing today. Why and how can that change?

Silvoso looked at Scripture and the contemporary church to rediscover the church as Jesus designed it to be. He shares what he has learned about the church as well as a strategy to develop it. He notes that the characteristics of the early church included people devoted to their leaders' teaching, provisions for needs, constant growth, and signs and wonders in the public square.

Silvoso offers many challenging thoughts, such as how church planting happened, how leaders were developed, the vital role of meals, marketplace ministry, the true meaning of ekklesia, baptizing a nation (including Spirit led social action), and much more.

I think the greatest impact of this book is that ministry takes place in the marketplace. Believers are trained to do ministry day in and day out. It is not church staff but believers who advance the kingdom of God. The average believers were the ones who influenced society in the early church. Silvoso gives many encouraging examples from his own ministry and that of others how believers are transforming agents. He also gives practical ideas on being such a change agent.

This book is certainly a welcome challenge to spiritual leaders and lay people. I recommend it to those who want to know how Jesus meant believers to live and minister today. Yes, the strategy includes being immersed in the power of the Holy Spirit. Silvoso provides a good study of the idea. Perhaps it is time to put away anti-charismatic thinking and really get serious about how the church can be a transforming agent today. This book will inspire you and give practical help to get you on your way, whether you are a pastor or a lay person.

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 4/5.

Ed Silvoso is the founder and president of Harvest Evangelism, Inc., and also of the Transform Our World Network, which is composed of thousands of pulpit and marketplace influencers across the globe. He is widely recognized as a visionary strategist and solid Bible teacher who specializes in nation and marketplace transformation. He has been trained in theology and business. He has written several bestselling books on the topic of transformation. He and his wife have four married daughters and twelve grandchildren. You can find out more at www.transformourworld.org or www.edsilvoso.com.

Chosen Books, 272 pages.

 received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Dark Deception by Nancy Mehl

The suspense plot might be a familiar one. A woman in witness protection is in danger. The man she identified as a killer is now out of jail due to some issues with the evidence. In fact, the authorities now think he may not be the killer after all. The U.S. Marshall involved in the original case goes to the witness to give her the news. The witness, of course, is in immediate danger and the U.S. Marshall must protect her. This results in a great deal of suspense.

This novel has a very complicated plot. Near the end of the novel, the U.S. Marshall is explains it all. I was reading an ebook but I think it would have taken many pages in a print edition. In the midst of the explanation, another character says, “One thing that confuses me. Well, one of the many things that confuse me, I should say.” (Loc 3294/3516) And later the same character says, “Wow. This whole thing is so convoluted it almost hurts my brain.” (Loc 3312/3516) Yes, that's how I felt too.

I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a very convoluted plot involving several people who are not who they appear to be. The character development is relatively well done. There is also a clear presentation of the gospel.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Nancy Mehl is the author of over twenty books. She received the ACFW Mystery Book of the Year Award in 2009. She has a background in social work and writes from her home in Missouri, where she lives with her husband. You can find out more at http://nancymehl.com/home/.

Bethany House Publishers, 320 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Women Who Move Mountains by Sue Detweiler

I really liked this book on prayer. God wants to hear from us, Detweiler says. There is so much that can hinder us from praying so she helps us work through those mountains.

Most of the book is material to help us on that journey of learning to pray with confidence, boldness, and grace. The chapters alternate. First is the teaching, including instruction and illustrations from biblical and modern stories. The following chapter contains suggestions on how to apply the previous teaching. Scriptures to read, questions to journal and one question for discussion are all included.

The last quarter of the book is a resource section. It includes twenty one devotionals. Each has a suggestion to journal, to meditate, a short devotional, a written prayer, and a statement to declare. Next are guidelines for doing a personal spiritual retreat. Next are guidelines for fasting.

I am impressed with this book. Not only is it good teaching on prayer, it also includes practical help in moving those mountains that impede us in our prayer life and obedience to God. She writes about shames, pride, perfectionism and more. One section I really appreciated was her writing about experiencing rejection in the area to which we feel we are called. Detweiler says God will use that heaviness we feel in our hearts. She encourages us to use that sense of desperation as a driving force for prayer. Another meaningful section was on the steps she went through in her healing of sexual abuse.

I think the strength of this book is in the opportunity Detweiler gives readers to journal their responses to the questions she provides. She offers a free download of journal pages that complement the book and offer additional growth opportunities. She has also included instructions for doing a ten week study with this book.

I recommend this book to women who want to grow closer to the Lord and each other through prayer. It would be a good resource for those wanting to start a women's prayer group and for women beginning their prayer journey.

You can download the Introduction and first chapter here.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Sue Detweiler is a wife, mother of six, author, and pastor with more than twenty-five years of experience in marriage, ministry, and education. She and her husband recently relocated to plant Life Bridge Church north of Dallas, commissioned as church planters with The Foursquare Church. You can find out more at http://suedetweiler.com/.

Bethany House Publishers, 256 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Executive Actions by Gary Grossman

Executive Actions

by Gary Grossman

on Tour June 1 - July 31, 2017

Synopsis:

In the midst of a heated presidential campaign, Secret Service Agent Scott Roarke gets an assignment that turns his world upside down. His investigation uncovers a plot so monstrous it can change the course of America's future and world politics. Roarke discovers that presidency is about to fall into the hands of a hostile foreign power. The power play is so well-conceived that even the U.S. Constitution itself is a tool designed to guarantee the plot's success. With the election clock ticking, Roarke and Boston attorney Katie Kessler race at breakneck speed to prevent the unthinkable. But they also know that it will take a miracle to stop the takeover from happening.

My Review:

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. It was well crafted with believable characters and a timely plot. At times I felt like I was reading the background story to today's headlines. I am not much of a conspiracy buff but I was intrigued by this novel. The plot was realistic, with a planned takeover of the U.S. government seeming entirely possible.

Grossman did a great job of combining information and suspense. I learned much about the constitution and its instructions on the transfer of presidential powers. I really like it when I gain some knowledge reading fiction, especially when it is expertly woven into the plot.

I highly recommend this novel. It has a believable plot that is full of suspense. The characters are realistic and captivating. Readers who enjoy Tom Clancy and Vince Flynn novels will enjoy this one.

A note to my regular blog readers: this novel contains offensive language and casual sex.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Praise for the Executive Series:

“Executive Actions is the best political thriller I have read in a long, long time. Right up there with the very best of David Baldacci. [A] masterpiece of suspense; powerfully written and filled with wildly imaginative twists. Get ready to lose yourself in a hell of a story.”
Michael Palmer, New York Times bestselling author
“Break out the flashlight, and prepare to stay up all night … Once you start reading Executive Actions you won’t be able to put it down.”
Bruce Feirstein, James Bond screenwriter, and Vanity Fair Contributing Editor
“Executive Command mixes terrorists, politics, drug gangs and technology in nonstop action! Gary Grossman creates a … horribly plausible plot to attack the United States. So real it’s scary!”
Larry Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Exit Plan, Cold Choices, Red Dragon Rising
“Moving at break-neck speed, Executive Command is nothing short of sensational … Executive Command is not just a great book, it’s a riveting experience.”
W.G. Griffiths, award-winning, bestselling author of Methuselah’s Pillar, Malchus
“Executive Command ramps up the excitement … A truly bravura performance from a master of the political thriller!”
Dwight Jon Zimmerman, New York Times bestselling co-author of Lincoln’s Last Days, Uncommon Valor
“Intricate, taut, and completely mesmerizing. Grossman expertly blends together globe-spanning locations, well-researched technology, finely crafted narrative, and intriguing characters to create a virtuoso tale. Highly recommended.”
Dale Brown, New York Times bestselling author
“Executive Treason is more chilling than science fiction … You’ll never listen to talk radio again without a shiver going down your spine.”
Gary Goldman, Executive Producer, Minority Report; Screenwriter, Navy SEALs & Total Recall

Book Details:

Genre: Political Thriller, Mystery
Published by: Diversion Books
Publication Date: January 13, 2012
Number of Pages: 556
ISBN: 1626811059 (ISBN13: 9781626811058)
Series: Executive #1
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

EXECUTIVE ACTIONS
by Gary Grossman

CHAPTER 1
Washington, D.C. Sunday 22 June
“Topic one. Theodore Wilson Lodge. Presidential material?” bellowed the host at the top of his Sunday morning television show. He directed his question to the political pundit to his left. “Victor Monihan, syndicated columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, is Teddy ready, yes or no?”
“Yes,” Monihan shot back. You had to speak up quickly on the lively program. There was no air between questions and answers. “If the cameras could vote, he’d be a shoo-in.”
“But they don’t. So again, will it be Mr. Lodge goes to Washington?” quizzed the host of the revamped McLaughlin Group. The reference to the Frank Capra movie was lost on most of the audience. Even AMC and Turner Classics weren’t running very many black and white movies anymore.
“Absolutely.” Monihan didn’t take a breath between thoughts. The host hated dead air. Pause and you’re dead. Someone else will jump in. “He’s totally informed, he’s had great committee assignments and he can do the job. Congressman Lodge comes off as a highly capable leader. Trustworthy. The all-American boy grown up. And he positively looks like a president should look … presidential.”
“So a tan and a good build gets you to the White House?” the host argued.
“It means I don’t have to worry about him taking my job.” The overweight columnist laughed, which made his belly spread his shirt to a point just shy of popping the buttons. The joke was good, but he lost his platform with it.
“Roger Deutsch, freelance writer for Vanity Fair, right now Lodge is trailing Governor Lamden. Can Teddy make it up?”
“No. With only two days before the New York primary, there’s no way Lodge can do it. He doesn’t have the votes. And there’s not enough time to get them. Henry Lamden will be addressing the Democratic Party at the August convention in Denver. But even when he gets the nomination, he’ll have a hard time against Taylor.”
The discussion expanded to include the other members of the panel. They talked about Montana Governor Henry Lamden’s qualities. About President Morgan Taylor’s rigid persona. About the voters’ appetite. And back again to the possibilities. “Is there any way Lodge can do what fellow Vermont favorite son Calvin Coolidge did: go all the way to the White House?” the venerable host rhetorically asked. The panel knew this was not the time to reply. Turning to the camera the host said, “Not according to my watch.”
This was the throw to the video package from the campaign trail.
Teddy Lodge smiled as he sat on the edge of his hotel bed to get closer to the TV set. He was half-packed. The rest would wait until the videotape report concluded. Lodge pressed the volume louder on his remote.
“It’s on,” he called to his wife, Jenny.
“Be right out,” she answered from the bathroom. Lodge tightened the knot on the hand-painted tie he’d been given the day before. The gift, from a home crafter in Albany, would go into his collection and eventually into his Presidential Library. But first he’d wear it for the cameras. She’d see it and tell everyone she knew. More votes.
Mrs. Lodge leaned over her husband and hugged him as he watched himself on TV. “You look great, sweetheart.” He agreed. The footage was perfect: Lodge in the thick of an adoring Manhattan crowd, the wind playing with his wavy brown hair, his Armani suit jacket draped over his arm. He came off relaxed and in charge; less like a politician than an everyday guy. An everyday guy who saw himself as President of the United States. And at 6’2” he stood above most of the crowd.
Lodge knew the unusual statistical edge his height provided. Historically, the taller of the two major presidential candidates almost always wins the election. And he was considerably taller than President Morgan Taylor.
The host obviously wasn’t a supporter. But the coverage counted. He hit the bullet points of Lodge’s career.
“Teddy’s been fast-tracking since college. He graduated Yale Law School and has a graduate degree in Physics at Stanford. The man speaks three languages. He worked on various government contracts until he decided to return to his country home in Burlington, Vermont, and run for State Assembly. Two years later, so long Burlington, hello Washington. Mr. Lodge went to Capitol Hill as a young, energetic first-term congressman. He distinguished himself in international politics and now serves as Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security. He’s as close to a rocket scientist as they come in Washington. He heads the House Committee on Energy and understands the complexities of the issues. But is he going to the White House?” the moderator asked in his feature videotape. “New Yorkers will decide Tuesday.”
And with that set up came the obligatory sound bite. It couldn’t have been better if Teddy Lodge had picked it himself. It was declarative and persuasive. The producer of the video package must have been in his camp.
“Tomorrow the world will be different. More dangerous. More hateful. Different times need different leaders. Make no mistake, there are no more safe harbors or promised lands. Unless … unless we make better choices today than yesterday. Better friends tomorrow than today.”
As he watched, Lodge remembered the clincher was yet to come. Things like that just didn’t get cut. He was right.
“So come with me and discover a new America. Come with me and discover a new world.”
Thunderous applause followed; applause from the audience at a Madison Square Garden rally.
Eighteen seconds total screen time. Unbelievable on McLaughlin. But Lodge was not an easy edit. He’d learned to break the sound bite barrier by constantly modulating his voice for impact, issuing phrases in related couplets and triplets, and punching them with an almost religious zeal.
Like everything else in his life, he worked hard at communicating effectively. He punctuated every word with a moderately-affected New England accent. Whether or not they agreed with his politics, columnists called him the best orator in years. Increasing numbers of them bestowed almost Kennedy like reverence. And through the camera lens, baby boomers saw an old friend while younger voters found a new voice.
The video story ended and the host brought the debate back to his panel. “Peter Weisel, Washington Bureau Chief of The Chicago Tribune, What sayest thou? Can Teddy un-lodge Lamden?”
“Unlikely.” Weisel, a young, black reporter, was the outspoken liberal of the panel and a realist. “But he’ll help the ticket. He’s a strong Number Two. A junior pairing with Governor Lamden can work. The flip side of Kennedy-Johnson. Let the Democrats make him VP. Besides, his good looks won’t go away in four or eight years. TV will still like him.”
Theodore Wilson Lodge, 46 years old and strikingly handsome, definitely could pull in the camera lens. He had the same effect on women and they held far more votes in America than men. The fact was not lost on the show’s only female contributor of the week. “Debra Redding of The Boston Globe, is Lodge your man?”
Without missing a beat she volunteered, “There are only two problems that I see. One, I’m married. The other – so is he.”
What a wonderful way to start the morning, the congressman said to himself.
***
Excerpt from Executive Actions by Gary Grossman. Copyright © 2017 by Gary Grossman. Reproduced with permission from Gary Grossman. All rights reserved.

Author Bio:

Gary Grossman is a multiple Emmy Award-winning network television producer, a print and television journalist, and novelist. He has produced more than 10,000 television shows for 40 broadcast and cable networks including primetime specials, reality and competition series, and live event telecasts.
Grossman has worked for NBC, written for the Boston Globe, Boston Herald American, and the New York Times. He is the author of four bestselling international award-winning thrillers available in print, eBooks, and Audible editions: EXECUTIVE ACTIONS, EXECUTIVE TREASON, EXECUTIVE COMMAND and OLD EARTH. (Diversion Books, NYC) and two acclaimed non-fiction books covering pop culture and television history – SUPERMAN: SERIAL TO CEREAL and SATURDAY MORNING TV.
Grossman taught journalism, film and television at Emerson College, Boston University, and USC and has guest lectured at colleges and universities around the United States. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Film and Television at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He is a member of the Board of Trustees at Emerson College in Boston and he serves on the Boston University Metropolitan College Advisory Board. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers Association and The Military Writers Society of America.

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 I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.