Top Ten Tues: Fav. Characters

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish . Each week there will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.

This week is...

Top Ten All time Favorite Characters in Books

1. Silvie from The Lost Books series by Ted Dekker: She is a great female character-brave, witty, and can throw knives like no body's business!

2. The Weasley twins from the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling: They were too fun and hilarious! They added that extra something to the series!

3. Grover from the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan: He was a riot! Grover so clever and charming! I laughed so much concerning Grover!

4. Four from Divergent by Veronica Roth: Four was someone I enjoyed for similar reasons I loved Edward Cullen.

5. Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger games series by Suzanne Collins: What more could you ask for from a female lead? Hard-core, strong, has it all together? I just loved Katniss!

6. Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling: I despised him for the majority of the series but in the end, he won me over! He was misunderstood and that made for a great ending!

7. Sirius Black from the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling: I adored Sirius! I especially liked that he treated Harry more adult-like than all the others.

8. Johnis from the Lost Books series by Ted Dekker: He was the underdog who became a great leader. His calm and somewhat private demeanor made me really like Johnis.

9. Edward Cullen from the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer: The obvious reasons :)

10. Minho from the Maze Runner series by James Dashner: His humor, wit and smart-allick comments made me love him from the start!


There are my top ten, but really who could ever have just 10? What would yours be?

Chosen Review

Title: Chosen
Author: Ted Dekker
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Reprint edition (April 13, 2010)
Pages: 272
ISBN: 978-1595548597

From Amazon.com:

Think with your heart and prepare to die . . . for you have been Chosen.

Thomas Hunter, supreme commander of the Forest Guard, has seen a great evil decimate much of his beautiful world. With a dwindling army and an epic threat, Thomas is forced to supplement his fighters with new recruits ages 16 and 17. From thousands, four will be chosen to lead a special mission.

Unknown to Thomas, the chosen four are redirected to a different endgame. They must find the seven lost Books of History before the Dark One. For these seven books have immense power over the past, present, and future, controlling not only the destiny of their world . . . but that of ours as well.

Thirteen years have passed since the evil being Teeleh destroyed Elyon's perfect creation, leaving barren desert, home to the Horde, and few lush forests, home to the Forest Guard and the people they swore to protect. But the fight against the Horde has been brutal, leaving the Guard outnumbered. As a last resort, young teens are enlisted to the purpose of the Guard. Four young leaders are chosen by Thomas Hunter (the Circle series). Johnis, Billos, Silvie, Darsal are chosen by Thomas to lead in battles, however, that is not the only thing these four are destined to accomplish. They are the only ones who can find the Books of History, ancient books with power so great, they would be fatal in the hands of Teeleh's minions. The four chosen ones must search out the books before it is too late.

Chosen is the first book in Dekker's young adult series, The Lost Books. It is an extension from his adult Circle series. Though this is considered young adult, it is easily a crossover adult book. The books pulls readers back into the unforgettable world Dekker created in Black, Red, White, and Green. Fans aching to return to the land of Elyon will drink up this book. Dekker's ability to weave a fantasy with realistic properties and underlying truths is not lost here. The story is just beginning but the adventure and action come swinging full speed in Chosen.

5 lattes: The fast paced action/adventure kept me turning the pages while the engulfing world Dekker created seduced me to dive deep. Cannot wait to read Infidel.

Immanuel's Veins Book Trailer

One book I have been anxiously awaiting is Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker. Dekker is a master suspense and intrigue and a true literary genius. Here's a bit about his new novel from Amazon:

This story is for everyone--but not everyone is for this story.

It is a dangerous tale of times past. A torrid love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and bold sacrifice.

Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee. Forgetting it once had a truer lover.

With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds.

Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will flow.

Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter.

But remember, not everyone is for this story.

Now here's the book trailer:

Immanuel's Veins from Magnus Creative on Vimeo.

Bargain Books-FYI

Barnes and Noble has some amazing books on sale in their bargain books section. Some of Ted Dekker's book, he's one of my favorite authors, are on sale and marked down as low as $3.99! What a deal!!! His books Adam, Saint, and Sinner are just a few that can be found in B&N's bargain section on their website. If you haven't read Dekker's novels yet (he's primarily a thriller/fantasy/supernatural author), you are missing out! I highly recommend checking him out.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick...




This story is for everyone--but not everyone is for this story.

It is a dangerous tale of times past. A torrid love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and bold sacrifice. Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee. Forgetting it once had a truer lover. With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds. Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will flow. Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter. But remember, not everyone is for this story.

Title: Immanuel's Veins
Author: Ted Dekker
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (Sept. 7, 2010)
Pages: 384, Hardcover
ISBN: 1595540091


Ted Dekker is one of my favorite authors so I am really excited for this book! His writing is indescribable-he's an amazing storyteller. I will be anxiously awaiting September!

Black, Red, White, Green-REVIEW

I just finished Ted Dekker's Circle series with the latest being Green and thought, in addition to posting my review of it, I would post my review of the other books in the series too. Keep in mind this is a "circle" series. Meaning, you can start ANYWHERE within the series because it all comes back full circle. However, my recommendation would be to read the series in this order: Black, Red, White, Green. Additional books related to this series: Showdown, Sinner, Saint, Chaos, Lunatic, Renegade, Elyon, Chosen, Infidel.



Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2009
Pages: 432
ISBN: 1595542884





Travel between two worlds with Thomas Hunter. In Green, Thomas hasn't dreamt in years and the Circle is weakening because there's no sign of their Creator, Elyon. When Thomas' son, Samuel, loses the faith, evil from both worlds tempts him to initiate war. Will Thomas be able to save Samuel and the Circle?


Thomas Hunter has saved Earth from a deadly virus and fended off the Horde. Thomas no longer dreams, but this does not mean there are not events happening in the Earth world that will gravely impact Thomas' forest world. Though unaware of the coming events on Earth, Thomas suspects there is a war fast approaching. His beloved son has created turmoil and unrest throughout the Forest people. Thomas must find a way to bring his people together again and save not only his son but the future of the Forest. With multiple betrayals, this task will be the ultimate challenge.

Ted Dekker does it again. His final chapter in the Circle series will have the reader turning pages long into the night. The suspense enthralls the reader to continue the journey through unsuspecting turns and astonishing twists. There are a few new characters introduced while other absent characters return. Green is not only the sequel to the series but the prequel as well. In addition, Dekker does a fabulous job of weaving in connecting series' such as The Paradise series and The Lost Books series. It was a fabulous end, or beginning depending on how you view it, to a most-engaging series.



Publisher: Westbow Press, 2004
Pages: 352
ISBN: 0849917921

Some say that the world hangs in the balance of every choice we make. Now, the fate of two worlds hangs in the balance of one man's choices... an unlikely hero who may not survive the next 24 hours.

In White, Thomas Hunter struggles to stave off a war and a virus that are simultaneously ravaging two world's populations. Meanwhile, he must also contend with the ramifications of an incredible love story that unfolds--consequences that are far more crushing than anyone could ever imagine. This final installment brings the groundbreaking series to a close in a completely unexpected manner, filled with final plot twists that will richly reward those who have taken this epic journey.


Thomas Hunter's life is never easy these days. The threat of the unleashed virus weighs heavily on Earth. A terrorist, who unleashed the viral weapon and holds the key to the antidote-which can be exchanged for the world's nuclear power, is on the hunt to kill Thomas. Being killed is the least of Thomas' worries as he furiously attempts to retrieve the antidote before it's too late. Though Earth is being ravaged by a virus, Thomas has little control over when he sleeps and the events that occur in them. While trying to unite the Forest people and fend off the Horde, Thomas' heart has fallen for a woman. However, this is no ordinary woman. The consequences of their love with surely bring war and death to the two as well as Thomas' people.

Ted Dekker's third installment does not disappoint. The development of the characters brings to light various emotional traits: love, sacrifice, pain, and strength. The reader finds that there are characters worth rooting for while there are others to loath. The quick-paced writing found in the previous two novels, is not lost in the third. The Circle series is a continuous thrill ride. The reader is engulfed by Dekker's writing style as his depictions surround the reader to feel and see as the characters feel and see. A fantastical, thrill of a ride to be taken by any reader willing.





Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2004
Pages: 400
ISBN: 0849917913

"We have stepped off the cliff and are falling into madness."

The mind-bending pace of Black accelerates in Red, Book Two of Ted Dekker's groundbreaking Circle trilogy. Less than a month ago, Thomas Hunter was a failed writer selling coffee at the Java Hut in Denver. Now he finds himself in a desperate quest to rescue two worlds from collapse. In one world, he's a battle-scarred general commanding an army of primitive warriors. In the other, he's racing to outwit sadistic terrorists intent on creating global chaos through an unstoppable virus.

Two worlds on the brink of destruction. One unthinkable solution.

A life turned upside down and inside out is the life of Thomas Hunter. As he teeters between two not-so-different worlds, Thomas finds himself racing against time to advert destruction. In our world, it is a race to find a cure for the Raison Strain-a virus that has annihilating properties. A monumental battle against the ever-imposing Horde is on the horizon as the Forest people begin falling apart at the seams in Thomas' dream world.

Ted Dekker's second book keeps the reader completely engaged. It is a fast moving storyline on both world accounts. In the midst of journeying with Thomas' characters between the two worlds, the reader begins to contemplate which world is the real world and which is the dream world. The characters are well-written and believable. It is easy to relate to the characters as exciting to see them develop even further. Dekker's writing pulls the reader in to the point of feeling in the middle of it all. It is a book packed with action, sacrifice, suspense, and above all, love. Though this book has Christian undertones, it can easily be enjoyed by any reader.





Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2004
Pages: 400
ISBN: 0849917905

Fleeing assailants through alleyways in Denver late one night, Thomas Hunter narrowly escapes to the roof of an industrial building. Then a silent bullet from the night clips his head and his world goes black.

Now Thomas wakes from a deep sleep, remembering the vivid dream he just had of being chased. Incredibly real. His head is even bleeding – but he's fallen on a rock. He's in a green forest, waiting to meet Rachelle, the woman he's falling madly in love with.

That night, Thomas tumbles into bed and falls into a fitful sleep. He dreams. But here comes the real mind bender. Every time Thomas falls asleep in one reality, he awakes in the other. He truly no longer knows which reality is real. Each reality has dramatic impact on the other, each proves to be real, each presents huge stakes, and the fate of each will depend on one man: Thomas Hunter.

Though Thomas Hunter's life is far from a success, he is the key. After being cornered in an alley by an unknown man bent on killing him, Thomas begins to dream when he sleeps. Not ordinary dreams, however, dreams where fantasy becomes reality. Thomas is thrust into a world if imagination and almost killed by ravaging beasts. He soon discovers that when he sleeps he not only dreams, but travels between two realities-both in despair and in desperate need of saving.

The suspense and intrigue flow throughout the entire book. Dekker's style of writing is amazing and unlike any other author. His ability to grab the reader with his creative story-telling is remarkable. The characters begin to develop into relateable beings and the reader is introduced to two very different, very similar worlds. Dekker's adrenaline-laced writing will draw the reader into a world where two realities not only coexist but depend on each other.



My rating: 5 lattes for all four books because each book kept me wanting more. The storyline was suspenseful and exciting. It was well-written with fully developed characters. I highly recommend this series to a read who loves fantasy and/or suspense with a little love thrown in.

Book photos and information found at Goodreads.com.

Tea with Hezbollah-Review

Publisher: Doubleday Religion, 2010
Pages: 288
ISBN: 0307588270


From Goodreads:


Is it really possible to love one’s enemies?

That’s the question that sparked a fascinating and, at times, terrifying journey into the heart of the Middle East during the summer of 2008. It was a trip that began in Egypt, passed beneath the steel and glass high rises of Saudi Arabia, then wound through the bullet- pocked alleyways of Beirut and dusty streets of Damascus, before ending at the cradle of the world’s three major religions: Jerusalem.

Tea with Hezbollah combines nail-biting narrative with the texture of rich historical background, as readers join novelist Ted Dekker and his co-author and Middle East expert, Carl Medearis, on a hair-raising journey. They are with them in every rocky cab ride, late-night border crossing, and back-room conversation as they sit down one-on-one with some of the most notorious leaders of the Arab world. These candid discussions with leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, with muftis, sheikhs, and ayatollahs, with Osama bin Laden’s brothers, reveal these men to be real people with emotions, fears, and hopes of their own. Along the way, Dekker and Medearis discover surprising answers and even more surprising questions that they could not have anticipated—questions that lead straight to the heart of Middle Eastern conflict.

Through powerful narrative Tea With Hezbollah will draw the West into a completely fresh understanding of those we call our enemies and the teaching that dares us to love them. A must read for all who see the looming threat rising in the Middle East.



This enlightening book, Tea with Hezbollah: Sitting at the Enemies Table Our Journey Through the Middle East, delves into the reason behind one of the most widely known biblical stories: The Good Samaritan. However, it is not "another religious-fanatic" book. Dekker and Medearis traveled across the Middle East, meeting with various fighters, religious leaders, and common civilians, in order to unearth the true teaching and belief behind The Good Samaritan story Christ spoke of in hopes of unearthing the truth behind loving ones enemies. These two men interviewed a wide range of officials and posted the interviews, word for word, within the book. Raw emotions and thoughts are woven throughout this journey.

What may seem as just another one-religious-based book, is in fact an account of a journey to uncover the commonalities between Christians and Muslims as well as Americans and those who reside in the Middle East and shed light on the growing situation in the Middle East. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a deeper knowledge of the religious basis of the people who are living in the midst of war in the Middle East. It was a quick-paced narrative paced with thought-provoking insights. I was pleasantly surprised to gain a new understanding and perspective through the eyes of numerous individuals living in a world unlike mine. I devoured this book in a matter of a couple days. Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis do not disappoint!


My rating: 4 lattes because it was a quick read with enough thrill to keep me wanting to turn the page and continue reading. It was enjoyable to gain new insight into the ideas of some of those who live in the Middle East. Dekker did a fabulous job on writing an excellent nonfiction thriller.

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren and I've decided to take part! This will include books I've bought and won.

Ted Dekker's The Bride Collector is his latest thriller. Since I've always devoured his books, I am excited to read this! (Bought @ Amazon)



Hood, written by Stephen Lawhead, was recommended to me. It seemed to have an interesting take on the Robin Hood idea so I thought I would try it. (Bought @ Amazon)






Poison by Sara Poole is a book I won. I'm looking forward to reading it.








Kira Henehan's Orion You Came and You Took All My Marbles is a book I won. It seemed like a book I would like!





What did you all get recently?



(pictures from Goodreads)

Kiss-Review

Title: Kiss
Author: Ted Dekker and Erin Healy
Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pages: 336
ISBN: 159554819X

From Amazon:

Master of evangelical Christian suspense, Dekker (Thr3e; Blink; Skin) joins first-time author Healy in this thriller, no less fast-moving than the Christy Award–winning author's solo prose, but also more gripping as it plunges into the life of a woman with frayed and painful family relationships. When a tragic auto accident leaves Shauna McAllister's brother brain-damaged and erases her recent memories, she discovers she has a paranormal ability to steal memories from others, a capability that will either get her killed or unveil hidden sides of the very people she thought she could trust. Against this background, she attempts to uncover the ugly truth about her father's dark secrets and to upend his run for president of the United States. True to Dekker's penchant for twists that keep you guessing till the very last page, Kiss also attempts to return to snappier dialogue and more logical plotting than Skin. A psychological suspense thriller that shines light into black-market child trafficking, Dekker's latest will satisfy Christian fiction lovers who want complex characters and who believe in the stark realities of true good and heinous evil.


Shauna McAllister's life becomes a complicated web of truths and lies from the moment she awakens from a coma due to a terrible accident. Her pre-coma memories are absent but she has gained the ability to retrieve information from the memories of others. A particular gift that will aid her in finding the truth behind her families web of lies, but a deadly ability to those whose secrets must be kept. To find the truth Shauna must trust, but trust is a dangerously valuable thing when it seems that those around her are not trustworthy.

Kiss was the product Dekker and Healy's collaboration and what a result! The pair weave an exciting journey through the paranormal all the while keeping the reader on the edge to determine who is lying, who is telling the truth, and who is the deceiver with the darkest secrets. The story was extremely well-written, keeping an energized pace while adequately developing the characters. Emotions are tried and reconciliation and love are put to the ultimate test inside the pages of Kiss. Many of the reviews I have read label this book as a romance as well as Christian fiction. The majority of the book felt like a thriller with a touch of romance. The romance did not overwhelm the story in the least nor did this book feel definitively like a Christian fiction book. This book could most certainly be categorized under numerous genres: paranormal, psychological thriller, suspense. The story grabbed my attention and had me until the ride was over.


My rating: 4 lattes because the story had an originality that Dekker and Healy exemplified into a masterful thrilling read. I found myself deep within the story trying to distinguish who was lying and who was being truthful. Excellent read!

Thr3e by Ted Dekker-Review

Publisher: W Publishing Group (division of Thomas Nelson, Inc.), 2003
Pages: 352
ISBN: 0849943728


From Goodreads:

Enter a world where nothing is what it seems. Where your closest friend could be your greatest enemy.

Kevin Parson is driving his car late one summer day when, suddenly, his cell phone rings. A man who identifies himself as Slater speaks in a breathy voice: You have exactly three minutes to confess your sin to the world. Refuse, and the car you're driving will blow sky high.

Kevin panics. Who would make such a call? What sin? Kevin ditches the car. Precisely three minutes later, a massive explosion sets his world on a collision course with madness.

From the #1 best-selling fiction author comes a powerful story of good, evil, and all that lies between.

Thr3e was the first Ted Dekker book I read. Because I assumed this book would immediately begin as an adrenaline-laced page-turner, I found myself a tad disappointed in the first few pages (hence the reason it did not receive 5 lattes).

However, that was where my disappointment ended. The first few pages introduce the character (Kevin Parson) and his nature which is critical knowledge for the rest of the book. Afterward, I was completely hooked on his books to the point of obsession. The book had me feverishly turning pages as the pace was fast and intense.

It is a race against time as Kevin's horrific past is unleashed by Slater, a psychotic killer on the path to revenge. Kevin must solve Slater's riddles before it's too late or confess the secrets of his dark past. The book had me hooked and guessing until the very last page. It is classified as an adult thriller and does not disappoint. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially thrill-seeking readers. This book's versatility allows it to be enjoyed by more than just those who read thrillers.

My rating: 4 lattes because the story was well conceived and kept me interested in the story. Though I very much enjoyed this book, I probably won't reread it.