Dark Star, Full Tilt, and Nobody by Creston Mapes

About Creston Mapes:

 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 ghostwritten 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.

Dark Star | Creston Mapes

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?

Margie’s comments: Oh. My. Word. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book this compelling. And one that gave my heart such a cardio workout. Seriously. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Creston Mapes and his fiction, but this is the first time I’ve actually taken the time to read his work. And I’m hooked. To get to read three in such a short time . . . well, I can’t wait to read whatever else is coming in the future.

What I appreciate the most about Dark Star is that while the topic is gritty, showing the seamier side of life—a life many Christians would like to ignore—the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ shines through from the very beginning. The author deals with the world of drugs, rock music, superstardom, and the occult with realism. Not once was I turned off because of “language” (there isn’t any) or explicit descriptions of sin, but the author painted a vivid picture without those crutches. He also tells of Christ’s love as it is lived out in believers. The trial scenes are interspersed with Everett’s story leading up to the trial. The pacing is great, and leads to an explosive ending.

I’ve been challenged as a reader and a believer to examine how I live my life before others. Am I allowing Christ and His love to shine through me no matter what pressure is laid on me to hide Him or to turn away from those who need Him but don’t know it?

I highly recommend this book.

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/bzhHu 

Full Tilt | Creston Mapes

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?

Margie’s comments: In the sequel to Dark Star, Everett Lester must still face the consequences of his former rock star lifestyle. We are introduced to Eddie’s and Wesley’s problems in Dark Star, but in Full Tilt we see how far into danger their choices have taken them. Because he knows that some of those decisions were a direct result of his own past, Everett realizes he needs to fight these battles for his family on the spiritual plane where the true battle is.

Full Tilt is another heart-stopping race against time and the worst Satan can throw at Everett and Karen Lester. The enemy is never happy when he loses control through a person’s surrender to Jesus Christ, and he will wreak as much havoc as he can to destroy that person’s testimony and influence. Again, I could not put the story down as I was catapulted to another heart-racing ending. And Everett’s story isn’t over. I’m looking forward to reading more of his and Karen’s story . . . whenever it’s published.

The only “negative” I found in this story was the use of the third person point of view as opposed to the first person in the first story. I didn’t feel as involved in the story, but that could also be a result of reading Full Tilt right after I read Dark Star.

But that aside, this is definitely another book I can highly recommend.

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/bzhMl 

Nobody | Creston Mapes

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.

Margie’s comments: Nobody caught my attention as I was immediately catapulted into the story with Hudson finding Chester dead. So many of his initial decisions come back to haunt him as he meets more people who knew Chester and he digs deeper into the dead man’s past. Hudson tries to reconcile what he learns of the man’s life with his own. I could identify with Hudson as he struggles with his lost soul and the need to forgive. Again, I’m impressed with the author’s ability to convey the light and love of Jesus Christ in the darkness of sin and its consequences. In the midst of chaos, fighting for his life, and dealing with the concept of a living relationship with Jesus Christ, Hudson’s story takes us to another heart-stopping ending. Definitely not a read for the fainthearted.

I highly recommend this book.

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/bzhU1 

All three e-books were given to me free of charge by Litfuse Publicity in exchange for the reviews. They are available for a short period of time at $3.77 each. Not a bad price for these excellent suspense novels.