Fix By Force, by: Jason Warne

Fix By Force is a story of loss and addiction, but it also speaks to forgiveness, redemption and new life. The themes are strong throughout the book, and a Christian emphasis can be seen at some points but is not blatant or a focus of the book.
Shane, a senior in high school, has lost his father in a car accident and his mother to a drug addiction. Feeling alone and insecure has lead to issues throughout his life, but many of his problems stem from bullying at school. One boy in particular, named Zack, consistently attacks him (physically, emotionally and verbally). Shane's relationship with his mom is tenuous, and often results in fights. And he is struggling to  continue work at the grocery store where he is employed.
After a long fight with his mom he discovers some things that his dad left behind. Unsure what the glass bottles contains he runs from his house with them and takes them to school the next day. When he is ratted out by one of his "friends" Shane gets expelled from school for bringing drugs with him to school.
If being expelled was not enough, his mom is arrested on drug charges and he has to go live with an uncle that he hardly knows. He is also given the ability to attend an "expelled school" where his life drastically begins to change.
An addiction to steroids, a relationship with a girl and the death of a dog lead Shane to the climax of the story, where he must make some decisions about who he wants to be and who (or what) he is going to let control his life.
The story was novel for me, and I enjoyed the first person style the book was written in. I thought the portrayal of the steroid addiction was well written. I also felt like the relationships and the people throughout the story were given emotion and connection to Shane, making them an intricate part of the story. Overall I would give the story a 4 out of 5, and it would be highly recommended.

The River

The River is a very well written book by Michael Neale. The oopening chapter catches the readers attention hook, line and sinker. THrough a tragic accident a boy loses his father and is left with a lifetime of fears and worries. The story of Gabriel Clarke and his battle with fear, fitting in and a desire to know his father follows in the next chapters. There are stories of his childhood, and we see him conquer many of his fears and find a way to live with the loss of his father. When Gabriel is around 20 years old he is invited to go on a spring break trip with oen of his steadfast friends. He accepts the invitation, but is nervous about what the trip will hold for him. On this trip he meets a girl named Tabitha who is adventerous and spunky, and begins to develop feelings for her. Little did gabriel know that this trip would change his life forever. The last chapters include a story of redemption and forgiveness when Gabriel is introduced to the man responsible for the death of his father.
The River was a beautiful story of pain, struggle and heartache; but it also told a wonderful story of redemption, forgiveness and happiness. I would recommend this book to anyone. An engaging story that Neale wrote in a way that made you feel like you were connected with Gabriel. The emotion of the story felt as if they were my own. I would rate The River 5 out of 5.

Garden of Madness By:Tracy L. Higley

Garden of Madness is a story of the life of Tiamat, the daughter of Nebuchadnezzer. The kings daughter desires to make change in the world, she wants to impact something. Throughout the story we see the struggle for truth, even when the truth is not something nice. In the opening chapters we find Tiamat being given away in marriage, and her father going mad. The story then picks up almost seven years later. Tiamat's husband is now dead, and there is talk of her being given in marriage to a Mede in order to make an alliance. Wanting her freedom, and desiring to stay with her father in Babylon Tiamat engines to search for a way out of the marriage. But her quest for freedom continually leads to more questions.
Throughout the story the readers see Tiamat growing in maturity as she begins to e concerned for more than just herself. She grows wiser as well, understanding that people are not always who they seem. And finally she grows in her faith in God, and begins to turn away from her polytheistic heritage.
The story was well written. I found some parts to be dry, but most were scenes were engaging. If you love Biblical historical novels then I would highly recommend this book, however if that genre is not your favorite then you might find the book a little slow. I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the plot. Overall garden of madness was a good story.