Think and Enjoy

In my opinion, a book should be two things: thought provoking and enjoyable. I enjoyed the opening of “Exorcism at Midnight,” with its descriptive image of an impending storm. It is a storm that is both physical and spiritual as a hurricane looms off the Galveston coast and an evil tempest bears down on the spare bedroom of Rodney Coleman’s Houston home. Readers can see the scary clouds in the sky; perhaps they will even feel the balmy breeze against their skin, even as they read from the safety of their living room. Leander Grogan paints a flowing picture of pain and despair as he sets the tone for the impeding exorcism.

The novel introduces readers to Rodney Coleman, a shadow of a once hulking figure that ran over defenses at Texas A & M.  His physical frailty is clearly evident when Grogan introduces him; however, his spiritual strength increases over the course of the story. His life changes when he meets Yacine, a truly interesting fellow seminary student from Africa. Fate aligned the super intelligent and insightful Yacine with Rodney. Would he be there when Rodney needs him most, when the fate of a loved one’s soul hangs in the balance?

I had a great time reading this novel and I found myself laughing aloud on several occasions. While it was a fun read, several passages made me think deeply about spirituality. We have many questions about cause and effect. We are often quick to spew an answer when faced with a dilemma. But I have found that quick answers are sometimes dangerous, especially for new believers. There is power in the humility of admitting that we don’t know the answer and conceding that we aren’t equipped to handle certain situations alone. The more I read “Exorcism” I realized that I was thinking deeply just as much as I was enjoying a great story.

Leander Grogan is a prolific thinker and a witty story teller. So he naturally delivers a thought provoking and enjoyable read. I also purchased his novel titled “Orange Fingertips” and I look forward to reading and reviewing that novel. If you are looking for a fast paced novel that you will not want to put down, purchase “Exorcism at Midnight.” Then think and enjoy.

Who…In The World…Is Kaitlyn Ross? (My Review of “Thin Ice” by KR Bankston)

Who…in the world…is Kaitlyn Ross. An easy answer is she is the leading lady in the novel “Thin Ice,”  a serial drama written by KR Bankston. But that really tells us nothing. Kaitlyn, known to some as Kiki, is a very sweet, driven, business-minded young lady. However, she’s hard nosed, ruthless, deadly, cold, and calculating. Her story starts in a night club owned by a man named Ian “Ice” Bailey, a dude that really needs a hug or a role model. Ian is a cold-blooded killer and drug lord and readers can tell from that faithful night at his club that Ian and Kaitlyn’s paths would soon cross. Their drama was not without complication though because two other men were vying for Kaitlyn’s affections: Tariq, who buys drugs from Kaitlyn, and Landon, who wants to marry her and give her a regular life. Life with Tariq or Landon would probably be easier for Kaitlyn. But easy may not be a part of her persona.

KR Banktson did a excellent job writing the first novel in this “Thin Ice” series. There’s action, tension, and suspense. There were several times that I was actually shocked by the way the story unfolded. I said, “I didn’t see that one coming,” on several occasions. Kaitlyn really shocked me once earlier in the novel with interaction with this guy named Evan and that’s when I started asking, “Who in the world is this woman?” I found my answer at the end of the novel. Kaitlyn is a strong woman who really wants love and safety. But she has an edge to her that may not allow her to find either of those things. Will she ever settle down? I’ll have to continue reading the series to see. And I’m definitely going to continue reading.

Twist and Shout…And Twist (my review of “A Wanted Man” by Lee Child)

This was my first Reacher novel and I must say that I am now a fan of Lee Child. You can really tell that Child is having fun as he writes about the six-foot-five behemoth of a man with the wits of a Jeopardy Grand Champion. You can see the fun that Child had even as he narrated the novel, from the casual conversation from Delfuenso’s neighbor to the frank description of Reacher from the state trooper. Reacher even had to say, “Gorrilla?” At times as I read the novel, I could see Lee Child typing away and smiling. He might have even laughed out loud a time a two.
“A Wanted Man,” places Jack Reacher in the heart of a mysterious murder. Whether it was fate that caused three travelers to pick him up as he hitchhiked on the Iowa highway or luck, I really don’t know. But if it was luck, it was definitely bad luck. Child takes readers over flat terrain in the chilling cold as he toggles between Reacher and the investigators whose path he’ll soon cross. Whether he crosses the law enforcers’ paths as a partner or suspect, you’ll have to read the book to find out.
I really enjoyed “A Wanted Man.” There is a great twist in the book and then there’s another twist.

I’m a huge fan of twists but I’d rather have one big twist than two midsized twists. That was my only gripe with the novel, hence the title of my review. Give me one twist and let me shout. Keep the other twist for another book. That said, would I recommend “A Wanted Man” to my friends? Most definitely. I am a Reacher Fan for life!!!