Kathryn Mackel Reviews

Page One

Added May 26, 2005

The Departed

Author: Kathryn Mackel
Publisher: WestBow Press
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: Available Now
Genre: Fiction: Christian/Contemporary/Suspense
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $13.99
ISBN: 0-7852-6229-6
Author Email/Website: www.kathrynmackel.com/
Reviewer: Joyce Hanzo
Rating: 8 Gargoyles

The Departed will linger for a long time in readers' minds!

Joshua Lazarus may not have been the best magician, but when he became a medium, his career took off. Speaking to the souls of the dearly departed was his ticket to stardom, but there was a price to be paid. Although Joshua's act was mostly a con game, it seemed there were real spirits who wanted to talk to him. It soon becomes apparent that someone wants to silence him permanently. But is his enemy a person or a spirit?

There is a menacing, yet, meaningful mix of the occult and Christianity. Author Kathryn Mackel positions the powers of good and evil in a life and death struggle. The forces that propel the story forward are made very real to the readers. Joshua and his wife, Maggie, inadvertently stumble in the world of dark spirits, innocently believing them to be nonexistent and harmless. Yet, when Joshua begins to have real visitations, the mask of the mystical is pulled off to reveal an insidious identity.

Danger, deceit and demons encounter the power of Christianity and the showdown is spectacular. The ever-changing point of view contributes to a delicious feeling of uncertainty and unrest. The tension mounts in steady increments, thanks in large part to the crisp and focused writing. The author takes a contemporary, spiritual issue and filters it though the faith of Christianity. The result is a head-on collision of convictions.

Once readers start this book, they won't want to leave The Departed for a minute!

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Added May 18, 2005

The Surrogate

Author: Kathryn Mackel
Publisher: WestBow Press
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: March 2005
Genre: Fiction: Christian/Contemporary/Suspense
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $13.99
ISBN: 0-7852-6228-8
Author Email/Website: www.kathrynmackel.com/
Reviewer: Joyce Hanzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

The Surrogate is the real thing in Christian fiction! By creatively blending a contemporary issue with the practical tenets of Christianity, the author brings the timeless truths of God's Word to life.

Kyle and Bethany Dolan desperately want to become parents but a series of miscarriages and a hysterectomy shatter their dreams. Their only hope lies in their last frozen embryo. Now, all they need is the ideal woman to carry the baby to term and present them with their own child. Although Kyle had thoroughly researched all the legal ramifications, as well as the identity of the woman who would be the surrogate, a series of dark secrets threatens all of his plans.

The emotional prologue propels readers into the action, as each sentence leads ever closer to the heart of this story. Readers will feel the anguish of Bethany as she is unable to bear children. Then comes the joy of finding the perfect woman to act as the surrogate mother. Yet, as the pages turn, the dream rapidly becomes a nightmare as acts of violence and deceit endanger the lives of everyone in this family. The woman whom they trusted with the life of their unborn baby becomes a danger to herself and to those around her. The tension literally explodes at this point, climaxing in an ending that is both appropriate and amazing.

The shift in the points of view offers readers a fully dimensional look at this story. Each character adds another emotional layer. The author is to be commended for integrating Christian values and beliefs seamlessly into this story. A variety of issues are examined and explored, and readers will feel the force of a faith that can overcome obstacles.

The Surrogate delivers a story with passion and purpose!

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