the falling away by t.l. hines

Title: The Falling Away
Author: T.L. Hines
Pages: 366
Series: Stand alone
Published: September 10th, 2010
Rating: 3/5
Source: Publicist
Buy at: Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Summary:

He's been running from his calling, his troubles, and his demons. His demons just caught up. A member of Montana's Crow Tribe, he is called Dylan Runs Ahead. But that name couldn't be more off, because he's spent years running away--from his family, his people, his past...and himself. Now he's running out of places to run. He's haunted by his younger sister's disappearance, the recent death of a friend, and his impending sense of being chosen for something of great importance. But before Dylan can figure out what it really means to be chosen, and whether he's going to embrace the cost of that calling, he's going to have to slow down and face the demons he's been running from. Demons that are all too real...and aren't about to back down.

My Two Cents:

I never read anything from T.L. Hines so I'm quite excited to read it. The story is said as a supernatural thriller about a crippled veteran called Dylan Runs Ahead. He has been running all of his life from anything; from his past, from his future, and from his destiny. Worst, he also addicted to drug prescription and involved in a deal where two person were murdered. Then he met Quinn and Li which supposed to help him to face evil spirits/demon which was the cause of Dylan's running away. They confirmed that Dylan is the Chosen, and being protected who turns out also a Chosen, Quinn, a homeless woman. It may sound a little bit bizarre and but I started to like reading it even though I feel the story is so out of nowhere.

The writing style is quite okay and even though I don't feel connected with story in the beginning, it flows better once you start to understand what is actually happening to the characters. Sometimes I feel like I was off the hook with the story and keep wondering how it will turn out next. I thought the storyline is quite original and all the wondering that I have earlier at start will be answered as the story goes on. Like most thrillers, the element of suspense in the story works well and very attention grabber with all the twist and turns. The characters are very interesting, believable and there's also a sense of humour in it. Quinn is very mysterious for me and I always thought that she actually has something behind it. I only have a dissatisfaction on the ending, it rather ends abruptly after truth was discovered.

The book is actually has a Christianity element in it but it quite makes sense and I think Christians fiction fans would like this. I think the story is good supernatural thrillers as it claimed and anyone who like some actions and suspense would like this. It might have some flaws but it worth to kill the time.

About the Author:

TL Hines writes "Noir Bizarre" stories, mixing mysteries with oddities in books such as Waking Lazarus, The Dead Whisper On, and The Unseen. His work has won recognitions ranging from the Maryland Writers Association novel contest to Library Journal's "25 Best Genre Fiction Books of the Year" award. Currently, TL lives in Montana with his wife and daughter. Visit him at www.tlhines.com

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. These are my honest review and receiving a copy in no way will ever reflected my review.

dead man's eye by shaun jeffrey

Title: Dead Man's Eye
Author: Shaun Jeffrey

Pages: 81
Series: Stand alone
Published: December 30th, 2010
Rating: 4/5
Source: From author
Buy at: Amazon | IndieBound | SmashWords

Summary (Goodreads):

Blighted by an eye disease, Joanna Raines undergoes a corneal transplant operation to stop her going blind. The procedure is successful, but in the weeks that follow she begins to see dark coronas surrounding certain people. By turns fearful that something has gone wrong and worried that she's going crazy, Joanna searches for an answer to the phenomena.

What she finds will change her life forever. The transplant has opened a door in her mind, and the strange coronas are not legacies of the operation but proof that a legion of demons plans to invade the earth!

Now the only thing that stands between the demonic horde and their plot to take over the world is Joanna, a young woman with the power to see them for what they really are.

Seeing is believing.

The demons are real.

Joanna just has to convince everyone else before it's too late.

My Say:

I hardly believe myself that I finally finished reading this book! At first I thought I will have another problem to finish a horror book like this. Yet, I was glad I read it even with a little tense once in a while. The plot succeed to deliver the excitement of the story to me. I can't say the book sparks the interest in me from the start because I don't really like Joanna at first, or maybe it's just me. I felt sorry how she become further removed from her dear ones.But as the story goes on, the mystery of her new eye really intrigued me. It's like I'm wondering what will happen to her next, what she would see and what she should do and all. It scares hell out of me to read how the people were killed, a man lost an arm, etc. Most of the scenes took place at the hospital which really a perfect place, as like puzzle with so many doors and it's gripping to know what's behind once you open them. Hospitals for me also have grieves, death, hope and 1001 mysteries that we can't never understand, even how can evil spirits took over the hospital? Genius.

Unfortunately, the ending is quite desolate for me. It's part twisted but will never end and you will find it the same once you finish reading it. I totally understand the feeling of you would want a closure of story, but this one will quite fail you. The story is satisfying and have all the elements you want to read in a horror book. But the ending will define how satisfy are you with the book. I love the book, but the ending really made me depressed, with a claim that I don't regret reading it!

That being said, the book is actually really well-elaborated and well-crafted. Even though I found the similarity to a movie called "The Eye", this one has it's own difference and speciality progress. I read it in day time for 4 days because even though I like mysteries, it's the horror that stop me to read it at night. I fully recommend this book to horror/paranormal thrillers fans. You'll never regret reading it!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from Author Shaun Jeffrey for an exchange of fair review. Receiving a copy in no way will ever reflected my review and these are my honest review.

the red church by scott nicholson

Title: The Red Church
Author: Scott Nocholson
Pages: 182 (e-Book, pdf)
Rating: 3.5/5

Summary (Amazon):

For 13-year-old Ronnie Day, life is full of problems: Mom and Dad have separated, his brother Tim is a constant pest, Melanie Ward either loves him or hates him, and Jesus Christ won't stay in his heart. Plus he has to walk past the red church every day, where the Bell Monster hides with its wings and claws and livers for eyes. But the biggest problem is that Archer McFall is the new preacher at the church, and Mom wants Ronnie to attend midnight services with her.

Sheriff Frank Littlefield hates the red church for a different reason. His little brother died in a freak accident at the church twenty years ago, and now Frank is starting to see his brother's ghost. And the ghost keeps demanding, "Free me." People are dying in Whispering Pines, and the murders coincide with McFall's return.

The Days, the Littlefields, and the McFalls are descendants of the original families that settled the rural Appalachian community. Those old families share a secret of betrayal and guilt, and McFall wants his congregation to prove its faith. Because he believes he is the Second Son of God, and that the cleansing of sin must be done in blood.

My Say:

First of all, the church in this book really is red. I thought it just portrayed as a dark and horror about it. I have to admit I never read a horror genre books. Maybe I've read RL Stine's Goosebumps or Christopher Pike's Witch before, but it was hardly a horror like Scott Nicholson. When Scott emailed and asked if I'm interested to review his book, I think I have to grab the chance. If I don't have that kind of motivation, I don't think I'll read a horror books nowadays. And Stephen King is never on my list. Maybe I easily chicken out.

My Opinion:

This is a brilliant horror story that I ever read. The story is very engaging and I was left wanting to know more. Honestly, I stop reading for a few days nearly at the middle of the read because I have to pull my guts to continue reading it. There's a lot of mysteries and supernatural horror incidents in the story, it really creeps me out a few times.

Apart from religion's faith and believes, I found the book very original and Scott's writing style is very good. He really did it very well to relate the past and present's setting along with the characters and it sounds so believable. Ronnie's and Frank's character are very strong and I like how he portrayed their characters. And other than creepiness, the book also a page turner, a fast pace read and if you are strong enough, you wouldn't hold on for a few days like me. And all the horror scenes are just that horror! Sometimes I don't remember I hold my breath for so long that I nearly sweat. (May be I am just that scaredy-cat).

I can't compare the book with any other horror books as this is actually my first time reading a 'true' horror book. Nonetheless, I really recommend you guys to read the book and enjoy the creepiness of it. See how your it gets your spine. And just for the record, I read this only during day time, just to get me out of nightmares.

Disclaimer:I received the review copy courtesy of the author, Scott Nicholson. Though I received the book in exchange for fair review, these are my honest opinions and in no way will ever reflected my review.

Note: The review is linked up with CEP. For more information, heads to YA Addict.