Book Reviews (catching up)

I've finished a couple of books that I promised a review for. So today is catch-up day.

The first one is Pirate Hunter by Tom Morrisey. The original post for this is here.

The blend of historical and contemporary stories kept my attention all the way through the book. I've read several books that use this technique, but I believe the author of Pirate Hunter has done it seemlessly. So cool the way it all came together in the end. The characters were well-written. I felt like I was saying a reluctant good-bye to old friends at the end of the book. I would have liked to have their stories continue. If you like a good adventure, then Pirate Hunter will be a satifactory read for you. I look forward to reading more of Tom Morissey's books.


The second book is The Sacred Cipher by Terry Brennan. The original post is here.

This blog tour was scheduled during the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference earlier this month. Which was really excellent timing, since I met Terry at this conference two years ago. He and I were in the same clinic with Angela Hunt and Nancy Rue. In reading each other's submissions to the clinic, I was caught up into Terry's book right away. Great things happened for Terry at that conference, and a year later he not only had an agent, he also had a book contract with Kregel. So I've looked forward to reading the complete book for two years. Terry and I were both on faculty at this year's conference. What a wonderful blessing he and his wife Andrea are to me. I count them among my good friends and always look forward to seeing them at the conference.

The small portion I read as part of the clinic was the prologue of this book—the historical part, the back story to set up the premise of the book. And the story itself didn't disappoint. What a wonderful adventure that started with the discovery in NYC and led to Jerusalem. I loved the characters. And while it is fiction, it felt like it was a documentary of something that really occurred. A good documentary, much more enjoyable to read than the usual reporter's style. Terry's experience as a journalist brought a sense of immediacy to the story, something that could be happening right now. My only disappointment with the book came from my own experience as an editor. Several times I was tripped up by issues that should have been caught in the editing process. But, to be fair, they were issues that I tend to focus on that other editors aren't bothered by. So . . . don't let it keep you from reading this book. I look forward to Terry's next book, and I hope he's planning to use many of the same characters. I'd love to learn more of their stories.

Pirate Hunter by Tom Morrisey

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Pirate Hunter
Bethany House (July 1, 2009)
by
Tom Morrisey


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tom Morrisey is a mountaineer, aviator, shipwreck diver, and explorer, who holds a Full Cave certification from the National Speleological Society - Cave Diving Section.

He has launched, edited, or contributed to numerous national publications and is an award-winning adventure-travel writer. A popular speaker, he is also active in both evangelism and the arts. Morrisey earned an MFA in creative writing from Bowling Green State University, and his fiction has been featured in numerous anthologies and magazines.

His first novel, Yucatan Deep (Zondervan, 2002) was a finalist for the Christy award, and he is the author of six novels, including Wind River and In High Places. In addition Tom has also written two nonfiction books: 20 American Peaks & Crags (Contemporary Books, 1978) and Wild by Nature (Baker Books, 2001). He and his family live in Orlando, Florida.

ABOUT THE BOOK

High Seas Adventure Meets a High-Tech Quest for Pirate Gold West Indies, 18th century Young Ted Bascombe is rescued by notorious pirate Captain Henry Thatch, finding himself caught up in a world of crime, adventure, and a daily fight for freedom. . . . Key West, 21st century Marine archaeologist Greg Rhode embarks on a treasure-hunting expedition in the turquoise waters of the Florida Keys, but he's as beguiled by a beautiful diver with different-colored eyes as by the lure of pirate gold. . .The Hunt Is On! Interweaving these two stories, pro deep-sea diver Tom Morrisey spins a multilayered tale of two young men's quests to escape their past by losing themselves to adventure on the high seas. Romantic and thrilling, this unique novel explores the timeless truth that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

If you would like to read the first chapter of Pirate Hunter, go HERE

Margie's Comments: The main review will come later, but I'm far enough into it that I know I won't put this book down until I'm done with it. The combination of the historical with the current events of the story is wonderfully woven together. I love that. If it weren't for the weekend long family reunion I'm attending in San Diego, I would be reading instead of sightseeing and visiting. *smile*

Wind River by Tom Morrisey

I'm at the library using their free Internet, since it seems that after seven hours on the phone today, it was decided that someone is going to have to come out to the house tomorrow to find out what's wrong. Sigh. And I leave late morning for Georgia. So . . . I thought I'd better get this posted while I have access to the Internet. Hope you all have a great weekend!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing

Wind River
(Bethany House July 1, 2008)
by
Tom Morrisey


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tom Morrisey is a mountaineer, aviator, shipwreck diver, and explorer, who holds a Full Cave certification from the National Speleological Society - Cave Diving Section.

He has launched, edited, or contributed to numerous national publications and is an award-winning adventure-travel writer. A popular speaker, he is also active in both evangelism and the arts. Morrisey earned an MFA in creative writing from Bowling Green State University, and his fiction has been featured in numerous anthologies and magazines.

His first novel, Yucatan Deep (Zondervan, 2002) was a finalist for the Christy award, and he is the author of four other novels: In High Places (Bethany House Publishers, 2007), Dark Fathom (Zondervan, 2005), Deep Blue, (Zondervan 2004), and Turn Four (Zondervan 2004). In addition Tom has also written two nonfiction books: 20 American Peaks & Crags (Contemporary Books, 1978) and Wild by Nature (Baker Books, 2001). He and his family live in Orlando, Florida.

ABOUT THE BOOK


You Can't Outrun the Sins of Your Past
Desperate to forget what happened to him in Iraq, Tyler Perkins flees to the emptiness of Wyoming. He's here to escape and also to fulfill a long-ago promise by accompanying his 86-year-old friend Soren Andeman on a fly-fishing trip—once more for old time's sake. But their trek to an idyllic trout lake soon becomes something more deeply harrowing—a journey that uncovers long-held lies, deadly crimes, and the buried secrets of the past. Ty barely has time to contemplate the question of what constitutes justice when nature unleashes her own revenge. Trapped in a race back to safety, he must face his own guilt-ridden past or risk being consumed.

Powerfully imagined by the acclaimed author of In High Places, Wind River is an engaging wilderness adventure that explores the power of confession, the beauty of forgiveness, and the freedom of truth unveiled.

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE


Margie's comments: This is another book on my long (and ever getting longer) list of books to review. It's also going with me to Georgia. I'm being ever hopeful that I'll have time to read. (smile) So stay tuned. I have a feeling this is a book that the fishermen and outdoorsmen in my family will love to read!