Weekend Reading: HOUSE OF SKIN by Kiana Davenport

Recently, I've been haunting author J. A. Konrath's blog, and I came across a lovely new author totally by accident.

Everyone needs to read this moving story about how she went from the absolute blackest depths of depression to starting a new writing career.  J. A. shared an email he received from her telling her story, and asked the readers of his blog to please purchase her collection of short stories, because, in his own words, she's a better writer than he is.

I took a $1.99 gamble on her, and let me tell you, that dude wasn't messing around.  I devoured the first two stories during my lunch break at work and they are both breathtakingly beautiful and chillingly sad.  They are the kind of stories that make your heart ache, but it's a sweet ache... the kind that makes you sit back in your chair and sigh after you read the last sentence.  I'm SO glad I picked this up.

This is not fluffy reading, but the stories are wonderfully crafted--absolutely gorgeous, lush language on every page.

If you pick up one book to support a writer for this weekend, please download Kiana Davenport's HOUSE OF SKIN.

Also, for those of you who don't have a Kindle, you can download a free Kindle app for your PC here, or download the free app for your iphone.

Happy Reading!

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Note:  I'd love to start recommending great reads on a weekly basis, but I'd also be delighted to hear from you guys! :)  What books do you love to read?  Also, if you'd like to do a guest post recommending something, please email me at rebeccaknightbooks (at) gmail (dot) com.  Thanks!

Book Review: The Marriage Project

*Disclaimer! I received this review copy for free and am totally keeping it. Mwahahahah...


Hi, guys!

I'm taking a break from my blogging break to tell you about a fun book I just finished reading: The Marriage Project: 21 Days to More Love and Laughter. This is a Christian look at how to make your marriage.. well... cooler, in 21 days.

Now, usually I don't use the word "fun" about Christian non-fiction books or any books on improving your relationships. I don't like it when books imply that my marriage isn't awesome, interprets the Bible for me, or tells me that I need to change in any way shape or form. After all, I Know Everything And Am Always Right. Please. I need advice like I need to go on a diet. Oh... wait.

This books surprised me in the best possible way :). The author, Kathi Lipp sounds like a woman I want to have a beer with. She doesn't preach, but simply gives us a head's up on what she and her husband did to bring back the fun and flirting into their marriage. The book is laced with humor and personal stories, giving details on how she and her husband are making their marriage (the second marriage for both of them) work while raising a handful of surly teens. If she can make that work in any possible universe, I'm all for listening.

The best thing about this book is it's super practical. It has little projects that you do with your spouse (or on your own if they're not into it), that get you in the habit of thinking well about one another. On one day you may write a list of why you respect your husband, and he may write a list of reasons he loves you. On another day, you are encouraged to flirt with your spouse via email or "sext" (hehehe). On another day, you may let him watch Rambo: Revenge of the Forest Ninjas while you snuggle on the couch. It's basically making a habit to hang out with one another, be a little sexy, and do nice things without being asked.

Oh, and another thing? The lady encourages good Christian couples to get freaky. That endeared me to her right away :). Being intimate with your spouse really is something that often gets sidelined, but is so necessary to keep you close. One of your weekly "projects" is getting busy. Sometimes, planning it can be even more fun...

One other thing I enjoyed about Kathi's book is that she gets the differences between men and women without going all Medieval on our asses. Men feel loved when they are respected, and women want to hear that they are loved. Men show love a lot of times through action--he may clean the gutters to show you he cares--while women use words and affection. He may be tapping his foot waiting for you to notice that when he's balancing the checkbook, he's really saying "I love you," and you may be waiting to hear the words and getting pissed off. It helps to take a step back and realize the differences. Then, you can better appreciate one another.

I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a fun way to reconnect with your husband, wife, or significant other. I feel like my marriage pretty much rocks, but I still found helpful things in this book that made me look at my husband in a new way. Check it out--it's funny and low pressure. I'd love to hear about it if you decide to do The Marriage Project yourselves!

I'll be back blogging regularly on 5/3/10 :). I miss you guys--have a great week!

Book Review: LOST MISSION by Athol Dickson

Agent Rachelle Gardner recently asked her blog followers if anyone would be willing to read and review one of her client's new books. Even though I usually don't read Christian fiction, I thought this might be a great opportunity to branch out.


Disclaimer: This book was totally free, and I'm either keeping it, or donating it to someone, so yeah. Take that as you will :).


Disclaimer for my Disclaimer: Considering this book was free, I didn't feel bad about potentially disliking it and took a risk on something I usually wouldn't buy.

LOST MISSION by Athol Dickson surprised me. I've been reading a lot of faced-paced YA lately, so I'm used to prose being concise and action-packed. LOST MISSION was different. It was contemplative and wasn't afraid to build the characterization and tension layer by layer.

The book is an epic tale taking place over two centuries, chock full of magical realism and cleverly interwoven storylines. It takes place in California, and follows the story of an 18th century Spanish friar on a mission to save the native people, blending together with the modern day story of Lupe, a woman on a mission from God to cross the border illegally in order to save the gringos.

The story is about the testing of faith, the subtle lures of hypocrisy, and the question of when it's okay to break the law to follow a higher calling. The story is challenging to the reader--thought provoking. It took me a while to read it because I kept dropping it down into my lap and staring off into the distance, thinking about the questions it raised about morality. "What would I do? What is right in this situation?"

I think what I appreciated the most (even though I'm a Christian), is that Dickson didn't preach. He told a real story, and let the character's lives and emotions speak for themselves. I actually started dog-earing pages toward the end of the book because the writing was so powerful. Two of my favorite quotes:

"He heaved raw prayers up from his belly like a retching dog."

"We walk upon our past; with every step we drive it deeper."

Needless to say, I loved it.

My one warning is that when I began the book, it was a very slow starter. Dickson jumps through time and from character to character building the story and the world from the ground up. It takes time to get started, and I think if I'd borrowed the book or bought it for myself, I might have put it down in those first 30 pages.

I'm glad I didn't.

I've already recommended this book to two family members, and I recommend it to you. No matter your belief system, if you like your morals challenged, or just love a richly told story, LOST MISSION will not disappoint :).

Has anyone else read this book? Thoughts? Comments?

Book Review: Cast In Stone (Guilty Pleasure Reading)

After much internet peer pressure, I finally decided to cave and try out what you crazy kids are calling "Paranormal Romance." I like fantasy novels, I like romantic subplots--who am I kidding? It was only a matter of time.

This week I read and devoured the book CAST IN STONE by Kerry A. Jones.

Now, first off, let me disclaim that this is not great literature and is one of those Strictly For Funsies kind of books. Full on, Guilty Pleasure reading.

It's well written, but some things could definitely have been better plotted. There are holes. When I recommend this book, it's because that's not the point. The point is that the main characters are hot, hot, hot, and it's fun to escape into this land and enjoy the ride!

Julen is a man trapped by a curse put upon him as punishment for crimes he may or may not have committed 700 years ago. The only way for the curse to be broken is for him to find a healer. Sophia is a modern day coffee shop owner with a family secret--she's a healer, but also the woman sworn to destroy those under the "punishment." And here's the best part--to heal him, Sophia must agree to the Mingling. Meaning, instead of killing him, she must make sweet, sweaty love to him in order to break the curse.

See? Doesn't this sound like fun already? :D

Oh, and did I mention that Julen is smoking hot (at least in my head?)

I admit that I chuckled when I read the plot synopsis on the back. However, when I read the exerpt on Amazon I noticed that there is not only witty repartee from the start, but a dangerous and sexy atmosphere full of tension, my credit card popped out of my wallet, and the rest is history.

This book was a quick, engaging read and had some of the most tastefully executed, steamy bedroom scenes I've ever read. Not once was there a hilarious euphemism for man parts (although I was waiting for it, because let's face it--we expect it, and it's funny.) Everything was tasteful, sexy, and just plain fun.

As one who's not usually into romance, I will be forced to buy the sequel because I have to know what happens. This book is a good stand alone, but there are more adventures on the way from Ms. Jones.

What summer books have you enjoyed so far?

Do you have any Guilty Pleasure reads?

Fantastic Reads: Book Recommendations

Happy Friday!


This week I finished two amazing books, and have to share in case you haven't read one or either. As you may know, I love science fiction and fantasy. Those are my favorite genres to read and write in.


Recently, thanks to Christine F's love of the book, I picked up THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collines. I was already in the middle of reading the fabulous book, A DOOR INTO OCEAN by Joan Slonczewski, but got horribly distracted and devoured Hunger Games in its entirety before I could pick A Door Into Ocean back up.


The Hunger Games is about a dystopian future America where 12 Districts revolted against the Capitol, were stamped down, and are now forced each year to select "tributes" to battle it out to the death on national television to remind them of their subservience. The tributes are children, and are selected by a lottery called the "reaping."


In case you haven't read it, you have to put it into your eyeballs immediately. Seriously. It's amazing.


Once I glanced casually at the first page, I couldn't put it down, and it definitely delivered. Tense, fantastic writing and plotting all the way through.

A Door Into Ocean is a science fiction novel that, at first glance, is about a race of lesbian space mermaids, but at second glance is an intricate and beautifully wrought world where the author leads us to question not only what makes us human, but what makes humanity free. It is a slower read than Hunger Games, but absolutely worth it. It's incredibly well thought out, and the world the author builds is emmersive and breathtaking. I struggled with questions while I read this, which is a fantastic feeling. This book will challenge you while telling a great story.

I'd love to hear what books you've been reading. Any recommendations for my Summer reading list :)?

Book Review: SILVER PHOENIX by Cindy Pon

I was going to post this yesterday, but instead I played hooky and went and watched the new STAR TREK! Needless to say, I was spasming with waves of geek pleasure as the credits were rolling, so please go see it if you remotely like Star Trek. IT ROCKS!

ANYWAY, now that my tangent is over, I wanted to tell you about this highly enjoyable book I read: SILVER PHOENIX by Cindy Pon :).

Here is the book trailer (it's gorgeous!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihJ1xy009bk.

This book is a sweeping epic fantasy set in a China-like world. A young girl goes in search of her missing father at the imperial palace, but faces dozens of monsters and demons along the way, trying to stop her. As the mystery unfolds, we learn things are definitely not what they seem, and the threat is very real for our heroine, Ai Ling.

Apparently, Cindy Pon originally wrote this novel for adults and then it becamse YA during the publishing process. This means that even though it's YA there are some risque and dark moments, which I really enjoyed. It has one of the most messed-up monsters I've ever read about (which is saying something!), and breaks the mold of the usual suspects in fantasy novels. The monsters are rooted in Chinese mythology, which makes everything fascinating and new for those of us who are used to more British-inspired fantasy. Yes, there was a dragon, but even this was made new because it was an awesome serpent-like blue-and-green sea dragon, like you see in old silk paintings.

Also, the main hero, Chen Yong, is smokin' hot and sexy, and doesn't even know it, which, of course, makes him all the more delightful. The book ends well, and I felt myself pretty emotional on the last page, absolutely desperate for more. If you can hear me, Cindy, there better be a sequel!

There was an odd moment in the middle of the book where we learned the "real" conflict where I sat up in my bubble bath and went "Wait, what?" However, even though the twist may seem out of place in the moment, it resolves itself into a truly enjoyable read. After the first few chapters, I couldn't put it down.

My favorite part, I'm ashamed to admit, were Cindy's descriptions of the food. Ai Ling is like me in that she loves a good meal, and by the end I was desperate for some Chinese food like you wouldn't believe. I grabbed my husband and told him that I needed some noodles and buns with pork filling STAT. So yes, I'm sure this book will be responsible for me eating out a lot in the near future.

I definitely recommend this book, so go to Amazon and help support a debut author!

Have any of you read it? I'd love to know what you thought.