Rebel Book Reviews

The Occupied by Craig Parshall (Tyndale 2016)  Once again I've come across a book that leaves me with a deeper meaning to spiritual warfare. The Occupied is more than mere thriller or horror; it is also a book on truth about the unseen forces that influence the world today just as it did in the past. Because we can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there. The character Trevor Black (and I started to see a little symbolism about his name as I read more) is blessed with the gift of discernment. Discernment meaning he can smell and sense the evil of demons around him and at times see them as they "occupied" a person. Although the Christian aspect is not heavy or layered thickly throughout the book, the belief in Christ is made evident. As is the Scriptural truths about the battle that we cannot see. Some people may scoff and say that this is truly a work of fiction, but lessons and truth are often threaded through fiction. Can anyone smel...

Frantic by Mike Dellosso (Realms 2012) I love thrillers. I love horror. I like the heart thumping reaction to reading the battle between good and evil. Frantic offered me exactly that. This is an in-your-face type of story. Think Stephen King and Rose Red , think Dean Koontz and his supernatural stories, or how about House on Haunted Hill ? Those don't compare to the darkness that this book forces the reader to face. One twist after another kept the pages turning. One breath stealing scene to another kept me glued to the words unfolding before me. This isn't your run of the mill Christian fiction or Christian thriller. It is straight up horror for the adrenaline junkies. And like most all horror stories, good overcomes evil; evil never prevails; and in this story, God is in control of it all. This is just one of many books by Mike Dellosso that proved to me that he is beyond a doubt a master storyteller. If I want a book that will wear me out, will force me to ...

Vanquished by Katie Clark (Pelican Book Group 2014)   It is a time of Greaters, Middles, and Lessers...until that time is challenged by a few.... Dystopian novels are one of the more popular novels. Dystopian Young Adult novels seem to be the rage among them. Vanquished delivers not only a truly unique dystopian tale, but one that is full of true young adult material. Many books leave the reader questioning if he/she really read a book told through a teenager's eyes. The angst may be there, but where's the character growth, the battle between adulthood and childhood?  With Katie Clark's Vanquished , Hana is shown at the cusp of womanhood. She has her tendencies to act immature, but to also question and push the boundaries of her rigid surroundings. Her bravery at not backing down to discover the truth, her wisdom in discerning what to do and when to do it, and her desire to learn the truth about the Greaters set in motion a tale that far surpa...

Surrender to Peace by Rose Allen McCauley (Olivia Kimbrell Press 2015)   ~~"I had to come to the point of total surrender, giving up what I wanted, and being willing to accept whatever He wanted..."~~ (Ramona p.58) The book brought this line to life. An easy read that wasn't about conflicts. It wasn't about a whirlwind romance. It wasn't about fighting against God's will. It was a love story--a sweet and simple love story about surrendering your heart. As I read Joy's and Benigno's story, I came to realize that another love story was unfolding--God's love story. As the words breezed into my mind, as I pictured myself on the beaches and streets of Puerto Rico, peace settled over me.  And the title says it all " Surrender to Peace ". Only then can love shine and the voice of God be heard. If you want a sweet, timeless love story written in the vein of Henry van Dyke, then Rose Allen McCauley brought one...

Mail Order Surprise by Lucy Thompson (Forget Me Not Romances 2016) Western romances seem to be the rage in historical romances lately. There are so many and most seem to be cookie cutters of each other, but not so with Lucy Thompson's Mail Order Surprise . She exceeds a Mary Connealy book or a Colleen Coble novel with her wit and humor. To me it was a fresh take on the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers theme . The surprises that cropped up in the story were unexpected and pleasant.  At times I wondered why Lydia did the things she did, and it made sense once the ending was reached. "Ah, yeah, that makes sense now. I don't blame her one bit" was my reaction.  Reading this novel was almost like watching not just the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers , but also a John Wayne flick like McClintock and others. The brothers interacted with each other in such a natural way. Lydia and the children seemed to be a natural extension of that family. T...

The Madonna of Pisano by MaryAnn Diorio (TopNotch Press 2015)   MaryAnn Diorio uncovers a deeply moving story of how sin can fester and unravel lives. Though the sin that was brought upon Maria was not her own, she harbored for seven long years vengeance against the one who destroyed her life and dreams. As a teen, my favorite novel from school was The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. This novel by Diorio is a new, fresh retelling of the age-old tale. Don Franco learns that sin, no matter how hard you deny it or try to keep it quiet, will rear its ugly head to wreak havoc upon a soul and body. Whereas Luca realizes that sin can disguise itself in the least suspecting of souls. And Maria learns that freedom comes with true forgiveness through the Grace of God. The Madonna of Pisano brought to life not only the world of religious corruption, but also an inside look at Catholicism--even priests are human--, but also the hypocrisy of a small village....

Wake the Dead by Victoria Buck   (Pelican Book Group 2014)   You read the title and wonder, "What will this book be about?". The title, Wake the Dead , has a dual meaning. One: wake as in resuscitate a person, who either died or fainted, and two: wake a person who is dead in Christ. In the not so impossible future, transhumanism becomes a concept. The constitution is gone. Government controls all: people, economy, entertainment, etc. But as with all control and absolute power, there are those who rebel and who will fight back. Chase believed in his illusion of the life he led, until it was taken away from his perceived control. Then it became a battle of will, of his mind and body, and of his soul. Throughout the book I ran into symbolism and truth. Truth about what can happen and what probably would happen in our future based on our society now. This book is a wake up call in fiction form.  And fine form it is. It held me captive; with ...