Litfuse Blog Tour -- Creston Mapes

About the author

A proud native of northeast Ohio, Creston has been writing professionally for almost 30 years.

He earned his degree in Magazine Journalism from Bowling Green State University in 1983. 

After working as a reporter and photographer for newspapers in Florida and Ohio, Creston became a corporate copywriter, then a creative director, before starting his own freelance writing business 20 years ago.

Since then, he has written marketing and magazine copy for fine organizations such as Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, The Weather Channel, ABC-TV, Oracle Corporation, TNT Sports, BellSouth, Focus on the Family, Hockey News, and Random House.

Creston has edited and ghost-written a growing list of non-fiction books, and has penned three contemporary suspense novels for Waterbrook-Multnomah, a divison of Random House. All three of Creston's novels are available in e-Book format and have been printed in Dutch. He has finished a fourth novel and is working on a fifth. Visit www.crestonmapes.com for more.

Dark Star

Can Fame, Wealth, and Power Buy Happiness? 

Everett Lester and his band, DeathStroke, ride the crest of a wave to superstardom. But the deeper they become immersed in fame, wealth, and power, the more likely they are to be swallowed alive by the drugs, alcohol, and discontentment that have become their only friends. Everett is headed down a perilous road of no apparent return when he's charged with the murder of his personal psychic. The only hope he can cling to comes from Topeka, Kansas , and the letters written by a prayerful young lady who lives there. Consistent and persistent, the notes cut straight to Everett 's empty heart, offering a fulfillment he's never grasped before. But what if he's found guilty of murder? Will he recognize the spiritual battle that's raging for his soul? 

Endora Crystal was my rock... 

As I staggered through the chaos of rock 'n' roll fame-the drugs and alcohol, the selfishness and turmoil-Endora was the gentle voice in my ear telling me I was special. Telling me I was adored. She was my personal psychic, and she said I had a unique purpose, a calling to give my fans happiness. To be their god. 

My band, DeathStroke, dominated the world of rock. Yet strife ruled our inner circle. My family didn't know me. I loved no one but myself. 

And yet Karen Bayliss was praying for me, that I would come to know the love of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ. She was not a fan. Didn't care for my music. Karen just wanted me to know peace. 

Now Endora is dead, and I've been charged with first-degree murder. 

Everett Lester is headed down a perilous road of no apparent return. Will he recognize the spiritual battle that's raging for his soul?

Buy the book: http://ow.ly/bzhHu 

Full Tilt

I ONCE SOWED DESTRUCTION.

Now those I love are reaping pain.

The media hype is fading and my life is no longer that of a glamorous celebrity. I'm Everett Lester, former lead singer of DeathStroke, acquitted last year of first-degree murder, now married, a Christian, and ready to take my story to the masses through music. Problem is, the turmoil of my past didn't end when the reporters left.

My wife Karen and I have received news that has rocked our world. My brother Eddie's gambling is so far out of control that the mob practically owns him. And Eddie's son, Wesley--who blames me for his brother's death--is mixed up with meth, a psychotic named Tony Badino, and a satanic voice that's urging him to take me out.

Will my Living Water tour ever hit the road? Will former fans stop hissing long enough to hear about the transforming power of Christ's love? Satan once used me for evil--only through God's power can I be used for good. The question is: will my loved ones and I be able to survive the aftermath of a rock star's life?

Everett Lester faces enemies both human and supernatural. Satan won't give up his hold on Everett, his family, or his fans without a vicious fight. God's victory is certain in the supernatural realm, but will Everett survive the earthly battle that's threatening to obliterate him?

Nobody

American Christian Fiction Writers: "Book of the Month"

They said, "He's a nobody."

They were dead wrong.

When reporter Hudson Ambrose hears an early morning call on his police scanner about an injured person at a bus stop on Las Vegas Boulevard, he rushes to the scene to get the scoop.

His world is blown off its axis when he discovers a murdered homeless man with a bankbook in his pocket showing a balance of almost one million dollars. Should he wait for the police, knowing the case will get lost in reams of red tape, or swipe the bankbook and take the investigation--and perhaps a chunk of the money--into his own hands?

With sirens bearing down on the scene, Hudson makes an impulse decision that whisks him on a frantic search for answers, not only about the mysterious man in the black Converse high-tops, but about the lost soul lurking within himself.

Buy the book: http://ow.ly/bzhU1 

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My Review: 

My Rating: 4 out of 10 stars

I never actually finished any of these books. It wasn't that they were bad or anything, it was just not my type of book. I had a hard time getting into them to begin with, and found myself getting bored after just a chapter or two. Character development hardly existed and after being a little ways into the first book, I still didn't feel like I knew the main character at all. But this was just something that I personally would find annoying, as a lot of what I base my interest in a book on is the character's personalities and lives.

I think a lot of people would love these books a whole lot -- I even think my brothers would enjoy them, but for me they just didn't make the cut. 

But, if you like curious, sometimes suspenseful, modern books than these are right for you!

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Team Novel Teen Blog Tour -- Swipe

Everyone gets the Mark. It gives all the benefits of citizenship. Yet if getting the Mark is such a good thing, then why does it feel so wrong? Set in a future North America that is struggling to recover after famine and global war, Swipe follows the lives of three kids caught in the middle of a conflict they didn’t even know existed. 


United under a charismatic leader, every citizen of the American Union is required to get the Mark on their 13th birthday in order to gain the benefits of citizenship. 


The Mark is a tattoo that must be swiped by special scanners for everything from employment to transportation to shopping. It’s almost Logan Langly’s 13th birthday and he knows he should be excited about getting the Mark, but he hasn’t been able to shake the feeling he’s being watched. Not since his sister went to get her Mark five years ago . . . and never came back. 

When Logan and his friends discover the truth behind the Mark, will they ever be able to go back to being normal teenagers? Find out in the first book of this exciting series that is Left Behind meets Matched for middle-grade readers.







The Review:
My Ranking: 9 out of 10
Ages 10 & up

After reading the synopsis, I was eager to dive into Swipe. While it took me a couple of chapters to get hooked, it wasn't long before I couldn't put it down.
Well written and engaging, I immediately fell in love with the characters -- especially the main character, Logan, who I found to have a lot of the same characteristics as myself! Curiosity and puzzledness were at their peak as I followed Logan through his adventure, eager to see what twist was around the next corner.

The book was very clean, with only a few mentions of crushes or jealousy about possible "dates". This annoyed me a bit being that the kids in the book are barely 13. Also, the parent's lack of involvement in their own children's lives was somewhat irritating, but overall, it did little to hinder me from enjoying the book.

All in all, I cannot wait for the next book to release this fall!

Make sure to check out Evan Angler's website to learn more about this awesome series, or head over to Amazon to purchase the first book NOW!

Also, check out the other reviews part of this tour to see what they have to say!

ADD Librarian • Blooming with Books • The Book Fae • Book Nook 4 You • Bookworm Reading • Books I Recommend • Christian Book Review Blog • CTF Devourer • Fiction Fire • Jill Williamson • Labor Not in Vain • Maniacal Bookworm • My Story Shelf • Oh, Restless Bird • The Pen and Parchment • Reviews by Jane • Shadow Writer World

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Book Showcasing -- Dancing in Heaven

Hey readers! Today I am happy to bring you a book showcasing and author interview! First let's hear about the book.

Dancing in Heaven is an inspirational story about my sister Annie's life, death, and her significance in the lives of those of us who loved her and others who were touched by her. Born with severe brain damage, Annie never outgrew the needs of an infant. She didn't walk or talk. Our parents fed her, changed her clothes, and lifted her from her bed to her wheelchair and back for her entire life of 51 years. This memoir provides a window into my family' s life with a severely disabled member. But more importantly, Dancing in Heaven is a testimony to the basic intrinsic value of human life.


You will be touched by this inspirational story about Annie and her family's ups and downs in their abnormal life. This endearing tribute to the author's sister is sure to leave you feeling encouraged and blessed. Purchase it at Amazon, read the first chapter here, or learn more about it here!

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Now, to learn more about the author and get a snippet of her WIP in the interview below!

How long have you been writing?


I've made up stories in my head for as long as I can remember, although I did it with a lot greater frequency when I was young. I never wrote any of them down, and don't consider myself to be a fiction writer at this point. Although I think I would like to be. I started to seriously pursue a career in writing in 1999 when I returned to college part time for an English degree with a minor in Written Communications. I wrote features for the school paper and had two feature stories published in the national magazine St. Anthony Messenger in 2008. Dancing in Heaven is the first book I've written.

 What inspired you to write a memoir about your sister?

I always knew I would write about my sister Annie. I believed her story had a lot to offer other people in many different ways. Mostly I felt there was something inside of me that needed to be spoken. I had written a short story about Annie while I was still in college, but set it aside. When Annie died in the summer of 2009, I became inspired, even compelled, to write her story.

 Do you have any plans to write anything else?


I am currently working on a non-fiction story about my father who grew up during the depression, and now has Alzheimer's. Obviously there is a lot of story in between, and one of the biggest challenges will be how to tell his story in the most meaningful way possible.

 If you could enter any book and live it out as the main character, what book would you choose, and why? 

Without a doubt, Pride and Prejudice. Who wouldn't want to spend the rest of their life at Pemberley with Darcy?

  If you could have a lifetime supply of anything you wanted, what would it be?


Books.

 What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?

Raising four children who are generous, loving, talented, caring, and responsible adults.

Thanks Christine for visiting Reviews by Jane!

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Forbidden Mind by Kimberly Kinrade

Sam thinks she's months away from freedom. After spending her life in a secret school, rented out to the rich and powerful as a paranormal spy, she is ready to head to college like any normal eighteen-year-old. Only Sam isn't normal. 
She reads minds. 
And just before her big going-away party, she links to the mind of a young man who changes everything.  
Drake wasn't raised as a 'Rent-A-Kid.' He was kidnapped and taken there by force. But his exceptional physical strength and powers of mind control make him very dangerous, especially to Sam. 
When they meet, Sam is forced to face the truth of her situation, and to acknowledge that not all is as it seems in her picture-perfect world. For what awaits her on her eighteenth birthday isn't a trip to college, but an unexpected nightmare from which she may not be able to escape. 
 To survive, they must work together. But will their powers be enough to save them before it's too late?


The Review:
My Ranking: 9 out of 10
Ages 16 & up

I had never read a book by Kimberly Kinrade, but I have always loved paranormal books and after reading the synopsis of Forbidden Mind I knew I had to get a hold of her novel. I eagerly picked it up and was sucked into the engaging and fast-paced story. I loved absolutely every moment spent in Forbidden Mind! It was very well written and easy to get sucked into. I quite literally picked it up and didn't put it down until the last page. It was incredibly gripping.

I instantly liked Sam's character. She was sharp and quick, yet had a compassionate side to her and a deep loyalty to those she loved. I liked learning about her twin friends, Lucy and Luke, and was dying to have them return to the story by the end.
Drake was also easy to like. He was instantly loyal to Sam, and I found his bravado charming, even if it was all mental support.

There is some content to beware of, and some of the stuff I mention below may be considered spoilers so read at your own risk. ;)

- Some mild language. Several mentions of the B-word, S-word, and D-word. 
- Sam can read minds and overhears a man thinking crude thoughts toward a 10-year old girl, thinking about how fresh and untouched she'll be. Sam finds these thoughts horrible and does everything she can to put a stop to the man. 
- While not directly said, it is obvious that they take the sperm from Drake and purposefully make Sam pregnant using it. This is not put in a good light at all and the author was the least crude she could be about it, having Sam think things like "I've never had sex!" or Drake, once hearing about it, believes it saying, hesitantly and carefully choosing his wording, that they were "harvesting me for reproductive purposes." and that he could tell things were done to "parts of him.".
- Sam, angry with Rent-a-Kid, realizes she's being used and in the midst of her anger realizes she's only worth keeping if she "ovulates properly."
- Sam recalls a time she was reading someones mind and he was mentally undressing her and she was disgusted.
- Mild kissing. Before they meet, Sam is longing to be able to touch and smell Drake because she is so connected to him.
- Drake, explaining to a pastor how Sam is pregnant, says he "never knew her in a Biblical sense", and the pastor laughs and says Drake is allowed to say the word "sex".

Overall, if the content isn't too much for you, this is an amazing book that I highly recommend. It was full of adventure and excitement -- I loved every moment of it and can't wait to finish the next one!

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Tips for Helping Your Daughter Choose a Great Book

Reading is one of those skills that can be applied to achieve positive outcomes in many aspects of life. As a parent, it is important that you encourage your children to cultivate a reading culture. This may seem like a huge task to you. However, getting kids to read has a lot to do with selecting the right books. If you have a daughter and aren’t sure how to pick some good reads for her, here are a few tips to help you along.

Consult with Your Librarian

Most librarians will give you excellent suggestions on what your daughter will enjoy reading. Let your librarian know about your daughter’s interests and indicate some of the books she’s enjoyed reading. Since librarians are knowledgeable about reading material across all ages, you’ll be surprised at the many the titles suggested for your daughter to read.

Let Her Interests Guide You

As a parent, it is easy to pick books that you think your daughter should read and overlook her personal interests in the process. While it is true that you can apply your wisdom positively in selecting books for her, it is important that you accommodate her interests. Be sure that you have a clear understanding of her interests. This will ensure that you help her to choose books that she’ll be excited to read rather than get bored by books selected.

Study Materials

Reading can be for leisure as well as for educational purposes. Perhaps your daughter is enrolled in a ged online program. You can help her draw up a good study plan that includes some great publications. Her success in taking the GED is largely dependent upon having good books to help her prepare thoroughly for the exam. Most online preparation courses outline the study materials required for the program. It is a good idea to check out study materials being offered by a course before you assist your daughter in selection. To obtain good GED study materials, you may want to check out the American Council on Education, which facilitates the exam.

Subject Matter

It is important that you take an interest in the subject matter of books your daughter is reading. Your parental role involves guiding her in selecting books that contain appropriate content. Encourage her to pick books that add value to her life because of the principles or concepts contained in the book. Given your daughter’s age, you should be able to determine if it is okay for her to read books on subjects such as family conflict, sexuality and other similar delicate topics.

What are Your Interests?

They say the longer you live, the more you learn. You may want to share some of your reading interests with your daughter. While the capacity to grasp language varies according to age, certain concepts may be appreciated across all ages. If you enjoy reading faith-based books or are enrolled in a Christian program, you must have come across several good reads. In most cases, online Christian colleges provide students with diverse reading lists, to teach Christian principles and foster the faith. If your daughter is below 12 years, you could introduce her to children’s bible stories, by way of encouraging the development of a spiritual foundation. If she’s older, you may want to introduce her to books that focus on overcoming faith.

Sources

Basics of Preparing for the GED Online. (2012) About.com
How to Choose Books for Kids. (2012)  Westerville Public Library.
How to Pick the Best Books for Your Kids. (2011) Reading-Rewards.com

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Warring Spirits by April Garner

Where blood is spilt, unexpected love may bloom.

 In 1816 Georgia, escaped slaves control the land just beyond the American border in Las Floridas. Lost somewhere between white and black worlds, Milly follows hope to the only place that can offer her refuge—the place Georgians are calling Negro Fort. The first, sweet taste of freedom convinces Milly that surrender is not an option. Death would be more welcome. 


Major Phillip Bailey has orders to subdue the uprising and return the runaways to their masters. Forced to fight alongside Creek warriors—the same who etched the scars into his mind and flesh—Phillip primes himself for battle. But inside, a war already rages—return for the woman he thought lost to him or concede her to the enemy she loves; follow orders or follow his heart.

The Review:
My Ranking: 9 out of 10
Ages 16 & up


Having read Wounded Spirits, I knew I was in for a treat when I picked up it's sequel, Warring Spirits. April Gardner had already impressed me and gained my favor with her smooth writing style, deep characters, and intense storyline. The wait between Wounded Spirits and Warring Spirits was a hard one to wait out, but after what seemed like forever, Warring Spirits was released and I eagerly snatched it up.

Once again, I was immediately drawn into the beautiful story that April wove deep in the heart of Georgia. Both Milly and Phillip's characters were well fleshed out and easy to like. We learned a bit about Phillip in Wounded Spirits, and it was nice to continue his story and see from his point of view in Warring Spirit. I also enjoyed learning about True Seeker. I must admit, he was my favorite character and I'm holding out that the next book in the series is about him! He intrigued me greatly!

Some content to point out:

- A girl wakes up to a man sleeping next to her, but nothing happened in the night.
- A crude man, obviously a "bad guy", suggests that he wants to sleep with a girl and that it was too bad she was laid up because he always likes his women to have a little fight in them.
- Several mentions of a woman stirring up passion in the men. Not purposefully, they're just lonesome soldiers and a girl is around. 
- A military leader informs his men to keep their hands off the slaves and their trousers buttoned or they'd pay for their pleasure with a lashing. 
- A man attempts to rape a woman(scene not written, but afterwards is very obvious) but is stopped but not before tearing her blouse(it says you can see the swell of her breast), as the rescuer notices later.



Overall, even though I preferred the first book I really enjoyed Warring Spirits and can't wait for the next book to release!

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My Favorite Christian Book

Besides being one of the most significant works of religious literature, John Bunyan's Christian allegory, The Pilgrim's Progress is one of the most outstanding pieces of English literature, period. The full title is more illustrative of the purpose of the book: The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come. The book is so well loved that it has been translated into over 200 languages and has not been out of print since the first publication in 1677.
Why it's a favorite. First and foremost, John Bunyan clearly struggled with all of the things that Christians so often struggle with: e.g., the temptation to seek pleasure over that which is moral, and the apathy that springs from knowing that you are and always will be a sinner. Because the author has given so much thought to these issues, the substance of the book will be poignant for any Christian of any culture and time. It is also a major source of academic study.
Second, the writing style is very interesting--almost mythological in its scope and grandeur. The allegorical character names and destinations are otherworldly, yet entirely relevant to our own lives. To give you an idea, the plot of the story is that of a man, named Christian (formerly Graceless) who is journeying to the Celestial City. Along the way, he meets Mr. Worldly Wise Man, Goodwill, Help, and Hypocrisy.
Reasons to read it. If you are a Christian and have not read this book, you really should just read it. It will substitute for any devotional, and is a great read besides. It is truly one of those books that, when read over and over again, will still elicit new concepts and interpretations. In this way, The Pilgrim's Progress is an almost-biblical parable that will enrich any Christian's walk with God.
The book is a used as a text or discussion point in many Christian colleges and universities.
For more information on John Bunyan's, The Pilgrim's Progress, check out the following resources.

• wikipedia.org - for a book with so much historical significance and material substance, wikipedia's synopsis and historical reporting is a great starting point for understanding the book.
• ntslibrary.com - this is the full-text of the book, so obviously it's a great resource for those interested in the story.

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