The main character, Grace, is thirteen at the beginning of the book, but her story spans the years of 1972-1980 as she becomes a young woman in a world fraught with challenges. She strives to live as a good Catholic so that she may one day become a saint; but goodness doesn’t come easily, and as she struggles to live her faith, she encounters life in all its many facets of good and evil, joy and disappointments. Add to this the pain of falling deeply in love with a young man who sees her only as a friend, and I had to keep turning pages, staying up late, to find out how everything turns out.

The characters are fully developed, easy to relate to, and real. Grace’s relationships with her parents, her many brothers, and her friends, are genuine. Readers will become invested in Grace’s fate, and yearn for her to win her true love in the end. While this book is a wonderful coming-of-age story for teens, it is also great for adults looking for a romantic story that is deep and meaningful. Not a shallow romance, Finding Grace has all the hallmarks readers could want: romance, conflict, humor, life, love, laughter, and tears.

Parents can feel confident in buying this for their teens. Finding Grace is a moral read, without being bland or boring. The importance of family and faith is highlighted. Yes, there are lessons to be learned, but readers will be highly entertained along the way.

I laughed out loud. I shared in the heartaches as Grace learned who she is, and who she can be, with the grace of God. I really do miss the characters and I’m sad to be done with the novel, even though it has a beautiful ending! This is a book that I will definitely recommend to my own daughter someday.

Finding Grace is available in paperback and as a Kindle ebook.

“Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night.”

When a wealthy young man disappears and a ransom note shows up, his twin sister’s world is shattered. Fearing the worst, Charlene determines to find her brother before it’s too late. Her quest hurls her into a twisted, frigid world of icy terror. The twins struggle for survival while enduring fierce trials of mind, body, and spirit. Devoid of all worldly comfort and consolation, will faith and hope be enough to get them through this chilling nightmare?

Interested in reading this exciting new Catholic novel?

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(Please note that Frozen Footprints is a Catholic suspense novel for readers 16 and up and is not intended for young teens.)

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Catholic-Fiction.com is also a great resource for Catholic fiction writers, as it includes advice and a list of Catholic publishers.

Let’s spread the word about Catholic fiction! Please take a moment to visit Catholic-Fiction.com, and be sure to visit often, as new titles will be added on a regular basis.

Sons of Cain by Val Bianco
Published in 2011 by Lepanto Group, LLC

444 pages

Review of Sons of Cain:

Just looking at the cover of Sons of Cain will send a shiver through you. This novel by Val Bianco is a true Catholic thriller. A fascinating story of grand proportions, Sons of Cain wraps around your very mind, heart, and soul, and refuses to let go.

The prologue provides a stunning beginning—even more so because it is based in truth, on Pope Leo XIII’s frightening vision that occurred in 1884 . After reading this vivid prologue, you will forever have a devotion to Saint Michael, the warrior archangel.

Sons of Cain is a cleverly-written, well-plotted, solid story that deals with the battle between Good and Evil—but not merely as a vague, abstract concept. On the contrary, physical and spiritual battles erupt on very personal levels. Nick Rieper, ex Navy Seal with a tumultuous past, has formed a band of warriors, the Knights of Longinus, who dedicate themselves to fighting Satanism. Father Picora, who has risen above his own broken past, is Rieper’s confessor and friend. Together, these strong Catholics must stop the Cainites from destroying America, even if it costs them their lives.

Interestingly, while Sons of Cain is geared for male readers, I can attest that females will enjoy it, too. One of the main viewpoint characters, Robyn Alexander, is a beautiful, smart young woman who faces some mighty challenges. After circumstances bring her together with Father Picora, Reiper (whom she is attracted to), and the Knights of Longinus, Robyn will find her life forever altered.

While there are many characters in this book, they are all believable and intriguing. The author includes in-depth background, insight, and motivation. Thus the story has some slower parts, but these offer interesting and necessary information and are well countered by intensely gripping action scenes. The good characters are easy to empathize with, and they are not sugar-coated goody-goodies. And the bad characters? (Pause here to shiver!) The bad characters are terrifying. I must caution: Do not read this book when you are alone at night! Also, this is not a book for young readers or the faint of heart. Be aware that there is some foul language, due to the nature of the subject matter and some corrupt characters.

At the same time, Sons of Cain offers a wealth of traditional Catholic teaching without bogging the reader down with dry preaching. I loved that the scriptural references were taken from the Douay-Rheims Bible, something you rarely see in fiction these days.

Sons of Cain is shockingly pertinent to the times we live in, times filled with issues of abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, government corruption, and other unspeakable evils. The strong sense of reality makes this book all the more frightening. It is chilling to realize that so much in the story is actually based in truth, and leaves you wondering . . .

After you finish reading, you must check out the “What’s real?” page on the author’s website. Still need more? Keep your eyes open for the sequel!

We are thrilled to announce that Past Suspicion (a novel about a head-strong Catholic teen on a quest to unravel the dangerous secrets of her mother’s past) has just received the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval!

Past Suspicion
$12.95 paperback
$2.99 Kindle Ebook

Reviews:

“Being home-schooled, Heckenkamp probably understands something about the brilliant recluse. It shows in her writing. Her heroine is sensitive, angry, hurt, intelligent, stubborn, curious, and has a large heart underneath all of her confusion. She is a typical seventeen year old. . . Heckenkamp captures the angst of those years beautifully. Her plot is solid, and is very movie or television friendly. . . lots of action; pathos; conflict; glamour; etc. It’s all there, and Heckenkamp is a confident and sure writer. She has no trouble keeping all of her balls in the air and resolving them at the end of this page-turner with a flair. Her denouement is terrifying, exciting, and then whoosh. . . she brings in the romantic element with panache.

Past Suspicion is a terrific first mystery/novel from a very promising talent. It is a particularly compelling achievement considering Ms. Heckenkamp has her future ahead of her. Bravo!”
– The Midwest Book Review

“Heckenkamp is a solid, engaging writer who has created well-developed characters and interesting plot lines. This is impressive considering that she began writing this novel as a teenager, finishing it by the time she was 22. Catholicism was skillfully woven into the story; it wasn’t preachy or over the top.

I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for an interesting, engaging read with a cast of well-defined characters. I look forward to the author’s future novels!”
– Ellen Gable, author of Stealing Jenny, In Name Only, and Emily’s Hope.

“[Heckenkamp] has crafted a marvelous story with layers and depth. Her characters are richly drawn and intriguing. Past Suspicion is a page-turner, and Heckenkamp is an author to be reckoned with. I expect to see her work in the future and suspect that she has a long and successful career in front of her.”
– Nancy Mehl, best-selling Christian author.

“Past Suspicion is billed as a suspense for young adult readers, yet . . . would be welcome by older fans of thrillers as well . . . a remarkable debut.”
– Kathryn Lively, author of Saints Preserve Us: an Ash Lake Mystery and Dangerous Words.

“Past Suspicion is a riveting mystery that will keep readers turning pages. An outstanding effort by a first-time novelist!”
– Regina Doman, author of The Shadow of the Bear and other Catholic novels for teens.

“Past Suspicion is suitable for readers 12 and up and can hold the attention of readers through age 100. I found this novel refreshing and commend Ms. Heckenkamp for not sullying the story with profanity.”
– E. Dian Moore, Christian Freelance Writer and Editor.

“[Heckenkamp] captures the torn emotions of the main character and the rising sense of danger very adeptly.”
– Margot Davidson, reviewer for love2learn.net

“Though the story evolves well and comes to a satisfying climax and conclusion, the real appeal of this book is the character study. The first person narrative is smooth and plausible. . . . Robin is bright, funny, sad, inquisitive and sometimes, scared, but above all, she is authentic. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. . . . Robin Finley is both likeable and complex and the story is creative and cohesive, but the writing itself. . . is outstanding! Good stories aren’t too hard to find, but a good writer, now that’s a treasure! I salute Ms. Heckenkamp and look forward to her next work.”
– Val Bianco, author of Sons of Cain

Death in the Choir by Lorraine V. Murray
Published in 2009 by Tumblar House

181 pages

Review of Death in the Choir:

Short and sweet (but not too sweet!) and seasoned with suspense—this is how I sum up Death in the Choir, a cozy mystery by Lorraine V. Murray.

Francesca, a lonely thirty-eight-year-old widow with no children, lives with a cat and a dreams of meeting someone special. For this purpose, she joins the choir at St. Rita’s Catholic Church. She encounters a few romantic possibilities, but when death strikes, her focus shifts to uncovering the truth. Was it suicide—or murder? Everyone seems to have a motive. Suspects include choir members, relations of the deceased, even Father John and a handsome police detective.

Featuring a tight plot sprinkled with clues and humor, Death in the Choir reads smoothly and enticingly. The characters are convincing and well-rounded. From Francesca lying on the floor doing stomach-flattening exercises (and being interrupted by the doorbell and frantically preparing to answer it), to her mentally justifying taking “just one more” donut or muffin, she is real, she is flawed, and she is lovable. She is someone you could imagine being friends with.

At 181 pages, Death in the Choir is just the right length for a rainy-day read; it has the perfect amount of everything (plot, description, characters, dialogue), without a clutter of excess.

I thought I’d figured out the mystery, but I was wrong. The story keeps you thinking and guessing—and that’s what you want in a mystery.

Death in the Choir is a satisfying and recommended read. And it is certainly refreshing to find a Catholic mystery geared for women readers! I’m looking forward to reading the sequel, Death of a Liturgist.

Poor Banished Children by Fiorella De Maria
Published in 2011 by Ignatius Press

299 pages

Review of Poor Banished Children:

Poor Banished Children by Fiorella De Baria is a truly unforgettable historical novel about rejection, survival, despair, and redemption. I feared it might be a ponderous read, but in contrast it was swift-paced and completely compelling. Scenes will be seared in your mind long after you close the book.

Set in the 1600s, this tale (completely untainted by modernism) is about a young Maltese girl who is spurned by her family, taken in and nourished in both body and soul by a physician priest, before being torn from her religious life by Barbary pirates and sold into a savage world of slavery in Muslim North Africa.

Be warned that this is no story for light entertainment. Exciting as it is, and as hard to put down as it is, it is also hard to read because it is fraught with the most wretched of abuses and suffering, unspeakable atrocities made painfully vivid by such expert writing. Not for weak stomachs or the faint of heart! Make sure that you can handle the strong depictions of degrading, inhuman treatment of slaves, the merciless torments, misery and horrors. In many ways, Poor Banished Children is more frightening than inspiring.

And yet . . . I couldn’t put it down (even when I should have been sleeping). I had to read on, hoping for mercy and redemption. The main character struggles and fights and prays and despairs as she relives her tale during what she feels must be her death-bed confession. She clings and falls from her Catholic faith, convinced that she is unworthy of love, unable to be saved, and yet she yearns for absolution.

Poor Banished Children is a powerful Catholic historical adventure story in which the main character fights for survival of both her body and soul. It is gripping and haunting, filled with many religious elements that enrich the story and are never superfluous. Poor Banished Children is highly recommended for adult readers, Catholic or not—just make sure you are up to the challenge of a truly soul-shaking journey!

The Soul Reader by Gerard D. Webster

Published in 2011 by WestBow Press A Divison Of Thomas Nelson
260 pages

Review of The Soul Reader:

“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a common saying, but in the case of The Soul Reader by Gerard D. Webster, the book’s captivating cover caught my attention immediately, and the image of a man hooded in shadows does a great job of conveying the dark suspense lurking within this book’s pages.

The Soul Reader, Webster’s second novel, is the sequel to In-Sight, and while I highly recommend reading In-Sight first, it isn’t necessary. The Soul Reader stands strong on its own merit, complete with living and breathing characters, a well-layered plot, colorful images, interesting settings, and a dynamic story.

Ward McNulty’s life is fast flowing downhill after a tragic accident, a painful breakup, and the murder of his father. Ward lost his job, and now he’s losing his home. Just as he is preparing to move back in with his mother, ex-girlfriend Carrie Hope re-enters his life, trying to convince him to collaborate on a high-profile book dealing with the disastrous North Beach Project.

Refusing at first, Ward is ultimately roped in by his need to protect Carrie. He has a special “gift” that is also a curse: to see into the very soul of others, to see if they are spiritually dark and dead, or full of the divine life of grace. But even seeing where evil lurks may not be enough to save Ward and Carrie from those who don’t want the corrupt details of the North Beach Project revealed; these people are willing to stop the investigation at any price—and the price may just be Ward’s and Carrie’s lives.

With the help of a private investigator, Ward and Carrie begin to probe into the truth behind the mysterious deaths of three powerful people who were linked only by their connection with the North Beach Project. Ward visits his father’s murderer in prison and, following a lead, slips away to Columbia, where grave danger confronts him as he tries to escape the grasp of Culebra. Spanish for “snake,” Culebra is the nickname of a dangerous assassin who strikes quickly and leaves his signature in the form of a piece of snake skin laid over his dead victims’ eyes.

The Soul Reader may appear to be more of a guy’s novel, but I can attest to that fact that it can definitely be enjoyed by women as well. Webster’s writing is vivid, lively, and entertaining. Images are original and the story intriguing. This novel goes deeper than just a suspenseful adventure, addressing matters of the heart and soul, as well as forgiveness and redemption. The ending literally sent a shiver through me, and I can’t offer a better testimonial than that!

Stealing Jenny by Ellen Gable

Published in 2011 by Full Quiver Publishing
201 pages

Review of Stealing Jenny:

When I first read the back cover of Stealing Jenny, Ellen Gable’s latest novel, I was intrigued by the promise of a suspense-filled contemporary story involving the kidnapping of a young pregnant mother. I was not disappointed. Stealing Jenny was everything I’d hoped, and more!

From page one, I was pulled into the story. Jenny Callahan, a young Catholic mother of five, is nearing the end of a precarious pregnancy and longing to cradle her new baby safely in her arms. With only days to go until the necessary scheduled C-section, Jenny is unaware of the unbalanced woman who is stalking her and plotting to tear this baby away from her at any cost.

When Jenny is kidnapped from a rural bus stop, her three-year-old son is the only witness. Jenny’s stunned family is desperate to find her. The abduction quickly becomes a high-profile case, with news media hounding the Callahans. Father Paul, the parish priest, offers comfort and assistance to the Callahans, and he leads a public rosary for the intention of Jenny’s safe return.

Meanwhile, Jenny awakens to find herself in a living nightmare: chained to a cot in a remote cabin, at the mercy of a sad, sick, and desperate woman. If Jenny can’t escape before her labor begins, she and her baby are both in extreme danger of death.

When I had to put this book down, I literally could not wait to pick it up again. The perfectly-paced story features a stellar cast of believable characters. Jenny is the main character point of view, but the author skillfully shifts to other character viewpoints including those of Tom (Jenny’s husband), Chris (the Callahan’s oldest daughter), Denise (the villain), and Sergeant Kathy Romano (in charge of the investigation). Also, the story is interspersed with well-timed, poignant flashbacks of Jenny and her husband before they were married, which add to the richness of the story.

Stealing Jenny is a smoothly written, chilling tale of gripping suspense. There are terrifying moments and heart-wrenching moments. Catholic faith and hope are tested. Above all, the sacredness and privilege of precious new life is made indisputably evident.

Ellen Gable is a masterful storyteller. At 201 pages, Stealing Jenny is the perfect length for an intense day of uninterrupted reading. I wished the novel was longer, not because it wasn’t complete in itself, but because it was such an enjoyable read, I never wanted it to end. I’m rooting for a sequel!

Viper by John Desjarlais
Published by Sophia Press 2011

Viper is an intriguing mystery novel starring Selena De La Cruz, a Latina insurance agent who used to work as a Special Agent with the DEA. At the beginning of the novel, Selena agrees to meet her old supervisor, Del Bragg, soon after All Souls Day (and the subsequent El Dia de Los Muertos, on November 2, a Mexican national holiday) at her home church where she learns that her name is recorded in the parish’s Book of the Dead, preceded by several other names of men who are being murdered one by one in the order they are listed.

Selena finds out that a young girl has been seeing “visions” of a “Blue Lady,” who announces the next killing. Selena is asked to return to her old job in order to assist law enforcement in solving the mystery before the killer reaches her name on the list.

Selena is unsure who the culprit could be, whether it’s her nemesis, “The Snake,” a notorious drug dealer Selena helped to put in prison, or perhaps someone more insidious.

I loved everything about Selena (from her ‘69 Dodge Charger to her zapatos) and found her to be believable and well-rounded. In the midst of this mystery, Selena finds herself returning to the Catholic faith of her childhood. I liked the fact that her boyfriend is Reed Stubblefield (protagonist from Desjarlais’s previous novel, Bleeder) and I thought this was a nice touch. I especially appreciated the relationship that Selena develops with the little girl who is seeing visions of a “Blue Lady.”

Good novelists make us believe that the characters are actual living, breathing persons. The author (a non-Hispanic male) handles the ethnic Hispanic part of the novel so expertly that I truly felt I knew Selena. Desjarlais is a top notch writer and he has created well-developed, believable cast of characters and dialogue. I especially loved the rich and well-researched history of the Aztecs and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Not only did I enjoy this story immensely, I also learned a lot about Aztec history.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an intriguing mystery with great characters!

Copyright 2011 Ellen Gable Hrkach

The above book review of “Viper” by John Desjarlais was contributed by Catholic writer and editor
Ellen Gable Hrkach

Read about her exciting new book:
“Stealing Jenny”
coming…September 15

Ellen Gable Hrkach’s other credits:
Editor, “Come My Beloved: Inspiring Stories of Catholic Courtship”
Author, “Emily’s Hope” (Honorable Mention 2006 IPPY Awards)
Author, “In Name Only” (Gold Medal winner 2010 IPPY Awards)
www.fullquiverpublishing.com
www.twitter.com/EllenGable