Funny - authentic - tragic - intense

My review on goodreads

When Michael asked me to write a review for his new novel I did not remember that I had been beta-reading this novel months (years?) ago and how much I loved it. But after the first two sentences it came all back to me.

How could I ever forget this emotional story about first love? I don't know. Perhaps I'm reading too much, too fast, too unfiltered, too….I don't know. But I know that this novel is worth remembering.

It's hard to be a 16-year-old boy in modern society. Thoughts go wild when looking at girls. But what is appropriate? What is weird or perverse? Is it true that women don't want to be touched, never ever? Is staring harassment? Does your pure presence make a girl uncomfortable? How can you ever build a relationship with a girl if you're not supposed to approach them?

Our protagonist finds his opportunity in a ballet class. While all girls believe he's gay he gets to know Sara. The attraction between them is palpable.

Reading this novel stirs up an incredible range of emotions: the funny self-reflexions, the sweet love-story, the tragedy at school, their wise and not-so-wise choices, and deep sadness - you'll laugh, you'll chuckle and you'll cry.

Back to the Hunt(er)

For quite a few months nothing compelled me to write a post. But now Will Patching's Hunter is back. He did not disappoint me. This thriller is just as outstandingly excellent as all his previous books.

In this third book of the trilogy Hunter and Kate find themselves involved in a seemingly unbelievable international conspiracy including terrorism and warmongering.

But is it really impossible? Look at the world, at those in power. What do we really know about their motives? We don't know what's going on behind the scenes. We don't know what the different secret services are doing - and where. And sometimes one hand does not even know what the other hand does.

Yes, Will Patching's story is creepy and shocking - but not impossible.

I get it, politics are a dirty game of power, always have been. Personal or supposed national interests rule, but the motivation of some of the characters in this plot are disgusting in a way that hurts me on a very peronal level. They claim and believe to be devout Christians and that they do what they're doing because it's God's will. Nothing could be farther from the truth. That's the kind of fanatism we usually attribute to Islamists. Sadly the same mentality exists within Christian circles, a fact I find hard to believe.

As always Will Patching's writing flows easily, drawing me in, making me fear for his characters, letting me see the atrocious scenes, taking me to England, Iran, the USA, Turkey and Cyprus within minutes.

Besides his breathtaking novels (Remorseless, Mutilated, Gaslighting, The Hack, The Hunter) Will Patching has a very informative webside about his writing, the background and his inspiration: www.thehacknovel.com

Will did it again

Will Patching is without exaggeration one of the best authors I know.
His writing skills are exceptional, his novels have psychological depth and always bring in some mostly unknown well-researched facts and are incredibly suspenseful.

The Hack was Will Patching's first novel. Since I read it nearly two years ago I've been waiting for the sequel.

In the meantime Will published his Remorseless Trilogy - three outstanding thrillers about psychopaths - that made the waiting bearable.

Finally Will send me an ARC of The Hunter!

Yes, this book is as explosive as dynamite! All his books are full of action, but this one tops them all. It left me breathless.

Hunter is a dangerous but fascinating man. Kate is a journalist seeking the truth investigating on an island in Thailand where slavery and human trafficking thrive and billionaires act like they own the world.

Yes, it's a novel and the fruit of Will's unstoppable imagination, but the disturbing thing about this novel is that these things happen in the world we live in. There still is slavery and humans are sold like objects. I highly recommend visiting Will Patching's blog thehacknovel to learn more about the inspiration for this story and to read The Hack - it's for free for a short period.

Exceptionally entertaining Oriental tale

Israel and Iran, hot spot in the Middle East, enemies since ancient times, threats on both sides, deep hatred and disrespect, that's our common perception when we think about these two countries.

On the other hand these are two of the oldest countries with great history and impact on the world beyond description.

And they both have a great tradition: storytelling. 

This week I discovered a book written in this captivating tradition. This oriental tale is an extraordinary gem that's expertly woven like a Persian carpet - and carpets play a major role.

A young Israeli soldier with PTSD in his obsessive search of a specific carpet travels with a stolen Canadian passport to Iran and finds himself entangled between Mossad and the Iranian Intelligence Service.

This novel is full of compassion for Daniel with his PTSD, intrigues, suspense, love, friendships and a wonderful description of Iranian sites that made me want to visit this country, irony and lovable relatable characters - on both sides.

Although this novel is written by an Israeli it's not biased or one-sided. On the contrary, the author doesn't glorify ore judge neither government, there are critical hints, but his focus is on his characters. And as a reader you can't help but feel for them - even for those of the Iranian Intelligence Service.



Highly entertaining!






       

Gaslighting

It's been a while since I posted last time. Of course I've been reading, but nothing blew me away like the beta-read of the third part of Will Patching's Remorseless Trilogy.

I had been waiting impatiently for this one. But knowing that Will's a perfectionist and truly one of the best writers I've had the pleasure reading, it was worth waiting for:

Suspense glueing me to the pages, heart beating faster than normal, empathizing with the characters, fearing for them - I knew there wouldn't be an easy happy ending. Will doesn't spare his flawed heroes.

.

I had no idea what Gaslighting means before reading this book. The novel includes perfectly both meanings: manipulation and emotional abuse as well as arson using a Molotov cocktail to ignite a flammable compound.

As in Remorseless and Multilated Will's villain is a psychopath of the worst kind, cruel, selfish, insensitive, frighteningly intelligent, cold and heartless - although he's just a 16-year-old kid.

That, of course, arouses the question: Is he born as a psychopath, is it in his DNA? Or did he become like this because of the traumatic experiences told in Remorseless? Nature vs. nurture. In this case both come together and the result is devastating.

Why do I love the thrill of his books? It's not that I like to see with my inner eyes all the cruelty he's conjuring, sometimes I'm glad it's not a movie, but I love that his characters are real and three-dimensional who think, act and speak like real persons.

Gaslighting will be launched at the end of June - but read Remorseless first, the kindle version is currently free on amazon!

Book-Highlights 2016

Reading is pleasure

My pleasure is greatest when not only the writing style is perfect or the story compelling, but when the book widens my horizon and helps me to see our world as it is, to understand people who live in different circumstances than I do, to see the world through different eyes, when it feels real and authentic.

That's what these 15 books do in a great variety of ways.

These are the 15 books that impressed me the most out of the 140 I've read in 2016 so far (we've still 10 more days to read) and will be remembered for a long time.

(The links lead to my reviews.)

Will Patching: Mutilated

is not only one of the best crime thrillers I've ever read.

I learned things I hadn't known about the British atrocities during the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya and about body modification and suspension.

Christopher Stollar: The Black Lens

Child abuse and human trafficking happens everywhere at any given time and is a horrible crime we need to be aware of. This excellent novel shows this reality in a very authentic way.

Asaad Almohammad: An Ismael of Syria

This very personal and unconventional book throws some light on the conflict in the Middle East and on life as a Muslim immigrant.







Angela B. Chrysler: Broken

This incredibly honest memoir gives insight in an insane mind and shows the brokenness after child abuse and rape.

Suzanne Chazin: No witness but the moon

This excellent crime thriller reflects the life of undocumented immgrants in the USA.

Zeke Caligiuri: This is where I am

Zeke is in prison and he shows us in a mixture of youth slang, poetry and philosophy that people in prison aren't all monsters but human beings struggling not to lose their mind.

Ryan Rufus: Extra reine Gnade (Extra Virgin Grace)

This books reveals the freedom we find through God's amazing grace.

Christopher Bowron: Devil in the Grass

Satanists are evil, manipulative and power-obsessed and in this gripping novel they literally stop at nothing to reach their goals.

Laila Ibrahim: Living Right

Christian faith and homosexuality - a difficult issue.

Laila describes the hypocritical and dangerous attitude of christians who put law over love.

Anthony Vicino: Time Heist

Sometimes it's worth reading a book not because of the story but just for the way it is written.

This is one of the few science fiction books I really like.

Roger Deloach: Truth
           
This lovely novel is a book for all who know that something is missing in their life, who know that the life to the full promised by Jesus (John 10:10) should be different from what they experience.

Mark Matthews: All Smoke Rises

The unfathomable horror of addiction gets under your skin in his sequel to the even better Milk Blood.

Gregory Brown: Ephesians

This deep, thorough, sometimes challenging Bible study explores Paul's epistel to the Ephesians on over 500 pages.

The Bergh: The Lines (The girl who couldn't come up with an original title

This dark, intense short stories (actually there are two stories) make you feel what depression is like.

Marita A. Hansen: Broken English

Temptation, guilt, child abuse, growing-up in the ghetto within a highly disturbed Maori family are hidden in this very sexy and unsettling novel.

The surgeon is ready...Are you?

Finally there's a publication date for Will Patching's new thriller: 11th December

I just love his writing that flows so effortlessly and doesn't feel written at all.

His books are cruel, graphic and gripping with real characters and I literally can't put them down.

I guess I'm one of his greatest fans. He sure is one of my favorite authors.

I had the honor to beta-read Mutilated. I was enthusiastic and told Will so - and I mentioned some points where I had doubts. Now, two months later, the final version in hand, curiosity took over. I wanted to see what changes he made. Of course I don't know what the other beta-readers said, but he cut out some scenes I thought didn't help the story and put in some others I could not even have imagined. The result? Although I knew what to expect, it was as gripping as the first time and the bigger changes made the story even more intense.

With my pre-knowledge I could appreciate all the finesse in crafting this shocking thriller without being distracted by uncertainty. (less)   

The surgeon is ready...Are you?

Are you ready to read Mutilated, a story about a serial killer who mutilates his victims in a way you can't imagine, and if you do you'll cringe and try to forget the pictures your mind conjures.

This fast-paced action-packed book won't let you untouched, it's impossible not to feel and fear with Doc.

If you like your books well-written, suspenseful, with characters you can relate to, if you love horror that feels real and have a heart for people who are beyond the bonds of the social norm you need to read Mutilated.

Now I'm waiting for the third in this series and of course for the sequel of The Hack.

(updated 12-03-16)

Against prejudices

Some novels are extraordinarily good without a great story, suspense or plot twists. They're good because they're honest, authentic, open your horizon to a different culture or another way to see life and they make you think about the world we live in.They may even help you to understand what's going on.

This week I had the pleasure to find such a gem.

The news focus is on Syria, islamistic terror and refugees. We hear or read the shocking numbers, we see the devastating images and the world is discussing where to put all these people, who will let in how many, how to keep them from coming to the EU, how to make them stay in Turkey.

What we don't see and our politicians seem to forget is that we are not talking about numbers but about fellow human beings, individuals with individual tragedies and traumata.

There is no easy solution. History, religion, foreign interference....have created an atmosphere of prejudices and hatred. Some respond with religiuos fanatism and others loose faith.

One of those who seeing the world as it is can't believe there's a loving God is the author of this book. At least he admits that he could be wrong. Hopelessness is the ruling feeling in his narration. There is no hope without God.

My Review:

This book is a powerful appeal against prejudices, stereotypes and war. I don't know how much of this narration is autobiographic but I'm sure personal experience, pain and grief found their way into this novel.
Adam's sophisticated philosophical view on politics, religion, psychology and society is far from all clichés. I don't agree with all his views but they become comprehensible.
He gives us insight into what it might mean for an individual to live in exile while their homeland is falling apart.
The Middle Eastern conflict isn't easy to comprehend and with this book I noticed how much more complex it is than I thought. We got used to the images of bombed cities and refugees in small boats trying to find somewhere to live in peace. But while all this arouses compassion and the cry to end the cruelty, the masses seem faceless and islamophobia is thriving. Adam's story is able to remind you that "the Syrians" or "the Arabs" don't exist. Everybody is an individual with his own history and strugles and in case of the Syrians often traumatizing experiences.
The novel is told in small episodes, disussions and memories that mirror Adam's fractured state of mind.

Child abuse and human trafficking

Good comtemporary fiction reflects the world we live in. And this world is not perfect. It is a fallen world. One of the ugliest things in this world is child abuse and human trafficking.

Since I startet reviewing I've read some impressive books about that issue. Reports and statistics can't touch you as can a good story with characters you can relate to.

The two best of all those books until recently were the thriller "The Hack" by Will Patching (author's page) and the autobiography of Barbara Amaya Nobody's Girl (author's page).

Now I discovered another excellent novel about this incredibly evil reality.

My review on goodreads

This excellently written book is suspenseful, entertaining, hurtful, moving, thrilling....and true.

The book compares Zoey's situation with Oliver Twist, David Copperfield and Uncle Tom. The methods have changed but slavery still exists.

In the back of the ebook there are some shocking statistcs, reviews from readers who have been victims, information about organisation and an interview with the author Christopher Stollar who talks about his three years of research for this book and about his faith.

Yes, this is a christian book, but unlike other christian novels it doesn't shy away from graphic descriptions of the cruelties. The language isn't "clean" and although there is one christian secondary character it's not at all preachy or evangelistic.



In the interview Christopher Stollar quotes C.S. Lewis:

"The world does not need more Christian literature. What it needs is more Christians writing good literature."

Christopher Stollar does just that.

We live in this world and we can't close our eyes. This author not only writes about it but is donating 10 percent of the earnings of this book to organizations that battle modern slavery.

Haven seekers

I got this book from Netgalley and I did not know that it is the fourth and last in a series.
What a shame that I haven't started with the first one!

This is a really great series about persecution of Christians, keeping faith in times of trouble, patience when healing doesn't occur as we want it, pride and hope.
It isn't preachy at all, instead it is written with very deep psychological insight and suspense.

Yes, it's one of those books that made me cry, although I have not made all the journey together with Marcus, Lee and the others and I had to figure out a lot of the past experiences.

I'll probably have to read the other three, but I'll wait some time.



Why don't exist more books like that where Christians are real persons with real emotions and fears with the only difference that they know where their haven is, well-written with suspense?

Drug induced insanity

My review on goodreads

After reading The Damage Done and Milk-Blood Mark told me that he was thinking about writing a sequel.
I remember asking him wether his characters hadn't suffered enough for a lifetime. Obviously they had to suffer some more...

This week he sent me an ARC to beta read.

This sequel is as intense as the other two books, I don't know, how Mark does it, but by reading his books he makes me feel what the characters feel. It is thrilling and hurting.

This book is even more "supernatural" than the previous ones and that's probably why it doesn't feel as real. Lilly's state between life and death brings fantasy into the narrative and with that a bunch of doubts.

Nonetheless it's impossible to just close the book and stay indifferent. Just as Lilly's Mom is able to enter the minds of others, this book will intrude into every reader's mind.

I'm not sure if it's possible to fully understand the story without having read the other two.
They are all three awesome, excellent writing combined with insight in the mind and body of addicts, making me feel things I don't want anybody to experience for real.

                                                               But my favorite is still 
                                                               The Damage done, 
                                                               because it feels 
                                                               so awfully real.

Edge of God

One of my favorite beta-reads is finally published. I'm not only a little bit proud to have contributed a tiny bit. And it was tiny, that bit.  Michael's writing is so wonderful, it doesn't need much advice, but I hope to have encouraged Michael.


It's not a christian book as we expect them and know them all to well. But it is a very deeply inspiring book, that shows God's love and forgiveness and the way to change your life.

Michael told me that with this book he wants to help heal.
Although written with this clear purpose it isn't moralistic or preaching, but really enjoyable and entertaining.

My hope is, that it will find many readers and that it  may speak to those who need it.

Let go

Some things we have to hear again and again. 

We know the truth, we believe it, we promise ourselves to let it sink deep into our heart and to live according to that truth.

But time passes.

Problems arise.

We forget.

We don't see anymore.

We still know.

But it's not knowledge that changes live.

It's faith and trust.

And we need to hear it again.

Sometimes the truth hits our heart, when we don't expect it. 

Sometimes it comes along while reading a novel.

This wonderful book touched my heart with God's love in a way not many books do.

We must let go.

We must let go of our fears, our anxiety, our grievance, our sorrows. (Matthew 6:25-34)

We must let our hearts fill with His love to find His Kingdom within us. (Luke 17:20-21)

Our heart will know again that it's true: 

"You will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I am in you." (John 14:20)

Ted Dekker has been given a talent and he didn't bury it but made the best of it. 

(Matthew 25:14-30)

He didn't put his lamp under a bowl and with his books he is the light of the world. 

(Matthew 5:14-15)

Of course this abredged version has been published with a reason: to coax readers to buy and read A.D. 33 - and yes. This plan works out: I've just pre-ordered to receive it on October 6.

Two bestsellers

The Book Thief

Yes, it's definitely a bestseller and I'm always sceptical towards bestsellers.
It's not only a bestseller, it's also about World War II, the Holocaust, Nazi Germany....a historical novel, not my preferred genre and supposed to be sad.

But, as so often, my daughter Anna urged me to read it. And, also as so often, she was right.

This is a wonderful book about books, about friendship, about love, about life and death.

There have been written millions if not billions of reviews about it all over the world. Can I say something new about it? Probably not.

It took me in immediatly. It made me feel all sorts of emotions. It was sweet, funny, sad, hopefully and devastating. Just as Death describes the human nature:
"I wanted to ask her, how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words so damning and brilliant."

Ok, to love this book you must love one-word-sentences (if they are well-placed) and strange metaphors and it must not disturb you to be interrupted by the narrators voice, you must accept to know some things before the story reaches there.

As a German I have a point of critique: I've never met anybody who used the word "Saumensch".


Now I'm looking forward to this one:

I'm so glad to have found it for only 1,99 €

Here's what Ted Dekker wrote about it:

AD 30 is my best selling and best reviewed novel in years, so some might wonder why I would do an abridgment. Actually, it was extremely difficult and took Erin Healy (my life-long editor) and me a full month to do, but the result is amazing. It carefully eases back on historical details that don’t affect the story while leaving the characters, the full plot and story entirely intact. The last half of the novel is virtually unchanged and the nail-biting climax completely untouched. In some ways, it’s better than the full length version, depending on how much detail you like.

And it's still 432 pages long!

Yes it's historical, and it is a bestseller - but it's a Dekker, and I love his writing!

Stockholm Syndrome

Do you like to feel what you read? Do you like to emerge deeply into someone's mind, even if it's a dark and evil place or working totally different from your own?
I love that.

My review on goodreads

The Second Captive is one of those books that grip you and take you in not only by an interesting story but because it makes you feel what the characters feel and understand how they think.

Of course I had heard about the Stockholm Syndrome. But for me it got a new dimension and became believable by reading this book.

Beth experiences all sorts of emotions while she is help captive for two years. There's horror, fear, despair, depression, but also hope, relief, even happiness. The total dependence from Dominic creates slowly a kind of bond weaved by contradicting feelings, that keeps her captive even after her escape.

Dominic on the other side is obsessed by the idea to restitute his mother who died when he was only seven years old and a women his father rape and killed in the basement. He is determined to mold Beth into a life companion and to teach her to love him.

I know that this book will stay in my mind.

A stirring thriller

To be a member of NetGalley sometimes is a great gift. I have the advantage to read great literature before everybody else does.

Before joining NetGalley I never was up to date with books. I didn't bother to check the bestseller lists, always looking for free books or waiting for the more economic hardcover or finding something second hand.

My review on goodreads

This week I was really lucky to receive the ARC of A Blossom of Brigth Light, a really extraordinary book.

It took me in immediately and kept me reading all night until 3 am and followed me into my dreams.
On the surface it is a crime mystery with a likeable and smart detective and his altruistic girlfriend.

But there's more to it. This book and the characters have depth.
It hurts to know that this fiction isn't as fictive as we would like it to be. These things happen: couples who don't talk about the things that really matter, politicians who overlook crimes and do favors in order to get elected, main purpose public opinion, illegal immigrants who endure all sorts of abuse out of fear, men who consciencelessly use girls like objects:




For about 24 hours I lived in Lake Holly, NY, among those Latinos, suffering with Adele, Vega and most of all with Luna, a 15-year-old girl in danger.

Too much for one week

This was a strange week of reading: a variety of  genres (that normally aren't my favorite ones), betas and published, short stories and first drafts of chapters.

I'm feeling a bit dizzy, perhaps I should give it a break.

But that's not what I want. I  just want to get my head clear for the next challenge. And yes, this week was full of challenges.

One of these challenge is beta reading. No, I didn't give up after my first try (Beta reading). The girl I thought to be offended and hurt by my comments a few days later sent me a book she had even published to help her make changes. What a surprise!

I decided to continue beta-reading. As most of the authors offered fantasy or romance, sci-fi or history - all not my favorite genres - I decided to offer my "service" to the only one labelled horror thriller by an Indian author. I won't mention the title because it will be released in three days. I had a lot to comment about the storyline, the style, the characters...but as he said it was too late for changes. But his reaction encouraged me further. My thoughts were appreciated.

So I gave a  "romantic thriller" a chance. Keith's first novel. Very explicit sex descriptions in relationships I would never approve in reality nor do I like to find them in books. I told him so, but I tried to stay objective, pointing out where I found weeknesses, giving ideas how to improve his story without changing it to my tastes. That was indeed a challenge. And it isn't over! This novel is meant to be the first part of a trilogy and he is sending me now bits and pieces, the product of his mind storming, and appreciates my feedback. A very interesting and engaging process.

my review on goodreads

And then I found Michaels request to beta read his published romance. He wanted to know "if good enough was really good enough". I thought I had read enough sex scenes for at least a year - but it was Michael, my first guest, and I knew he at least has writing skills. And it flashed me.

This typical cover is hiding a gem nobody would expect here. Yes, there is explicit sex but not as an end in itself. It is a very well written young adult love story describing thoughts and feelings in an astoundingly real way and has true-to-life dialogues.

In this case "good enough" was indeed good enough - better than that.


Today I'll throw myself into the next beta read. Again a romance, more sex to come. Obviously that's what people write ad read. The author seems to be desperately seeking some feedback.

In between all this beta-reading I got the opportunity to read Mark Matthew's short story. He's one of my favorite authors so I had to read this story although I really don't like either zombies nor running. I don't watch zombie movies, a disadvantage, because I didn't understand all the innuendos, but I finished this very short story with goose bumps all other.






For NetGalley I'm actually reading some very different short stories.

An other challenge here!
I'm only half way through because it's so difficult to read the various slangs and accents.
The first story is from 1896, I've arrived at the 1930s now - and it is depressing.

my review on goodreads

After finishing Michaels romance I really wanted to read his other book. So I bought it for 1.11 € (For months I hadn't actually bought a book). Labelled as Science fiction, another genre I don't favor.

That was again something different. The shining world of globalization and privatization. Again very well written, very interesting characters - but an open end that left me unsatisfied.







Quite a lot for just one week - when did  find the time to read all this? I honestly don't know. Probably I'm neglecting things I should do instead.

Run your own race

My short review on goodreads

I promised to write more about this book when I wrote about opening horizons.

And this book did it in different ways.

I hate running, actually I hate all sorts of physical exhaustion. I can't understand how anybody would torture themselves to run a marathon. I can't understand how this could be fun or even addictive.

Mark is mixing in a perfect way the physical experience and the thoughts, feelings and mental experience during a run.

If I wasn't too lazy and undisciplined after reading this book I'd like to start training for long runs - but I know this won't happen.

I'm no runner but I got into the mind of a runner by reading this story. I mentally ran a marathon - entirely without physical exhaustion.

But there's more to this book than just running.
Jan was abandoned by her china-mama when she was 7 days old and adopted by Americans 10 months later.

What does it feel like being adopted? And not just adopted, but adopted from ethnical different parents, growing up in a world where everybody can see immediately that your parents have adopted you?
By reading her thoughts I get an idea of those feelings.

And Jan is a social worker in Detroit at a shelter for children in need. Of course she relates with the girls she meets there and we learn about their stories of abondonment and survival.

Jan is running her own race - on the racing track and in life.

Life as a race

Yes, this book shows that our life is like a race, like a marathon.

That reminds me of the apostle Paul who compared our life as christians with a race  in
2. Tim.,4:7-8

7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.

8 Now there is a crown waiting for me. It is given to those who are right with God. The Lord, who judges fairly, will give it to me on the day he returns. He will not give it only to me. He will also give it to all those who are longing for him to return.

or 1.Corinthians 9:24-26 

24 In a race all the runners run. but only one gets the prize. You know that, don't you? So run in a way that will get you the prize.

25 All who take part in the games train hard. They do it to get a crown that will not last. But we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

26 So I do not run like someone who doesn't run toward the finish line. I do not fight like a boxer who hits nothing but air.


The finish line makes the difference. What will be your prize?

The bright side of literature (II)

I had to split up the bright side in two posts because nothing can ever be as bright and important as the Bible.

But there are some enlightening books worth reading because they show Gods character and His love in a different way within a well-written story.

Some of them are famous among christians and I still remember them,

 such as  Frank Peretti's books about angels and demons

or Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lion Trilogy

The Shack by William Paul Young

An other one is Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory.

And of course my favorite: The circle series by Ted Dekker (unfortunately in German only the first three are available)

Two books I read this year unfortunately aren't yet available in German.

I discovered a book about the unseen world that really has impressed me and belongs amongst those long-time-favorites:                         

The influence by Matt Slick

An awesome book that might seem unbelievable but is so true. Since This Present Darkness (F.Peretti) I haven't encountered a similar book about angels and demons and their influence on earth. Clear message and biblical truth entwined by a gripping story. 
I know many people who should absolutely read this book, but unfortunately they won't do that because the purpose is quite clear from the beginning. 
What I really love are the conversations between Sotare and Mike and I appreciate the focus on prayer, a force we generally underestimate. 
I must admit that I envy Kathy and Mike a bit, I'd love to see what they saw in the end. But it doesn't matter: Knowing that I will see is enough.

Very often christian love-stories seem too smooth and unreal but I came across this book by Faith Simone 

I remember reading on her profile that the author wishes that her words ring true - and I want to assure her: oh yes, they do! It's a rare thing finding a book that's so honest about the struggle with our own feelings while wanting to do God's will without really asking Him.

This book is full of lovable characters, two wonderful men who are able to express their feelings, thoughts and faith - I wish there were more of this sort - a mother full of wisdom, good friends (Kim, Darren, Mike) and a woman I can really feel, full of doubts and fears, longing for real love as we all are.

I love the narrative of the past events thrown in in small portions, I love how she creates sensual tension without ever getting "dirty", I love the life-like dialogues - a great story taken from real life.